What is Portable Appliance Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing, also referred to as PAT testing, is the examination of portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use. It generally includes a series of electrical and visual tests.
PAT testing is recommended for all locations where people interact with portable electrical equipment. This includes offices, holiday accommodations, landlords, schools, healthcare facilities, manufacturing sites and some experts even recommend testing in the home!
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
No. The HSE's webpage states that the law simply requires that electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger.
It does not say how this should be done or how often, only that a risk-based approach should be used, considering the type of equipment and how it is used.
Most industry experts recommend that PAT testing is the most cost and time effective way to comply with the regulations, and as Law, failure to comply with the regulations could result in harsh fines and serious consequences.
Furthermore, if the worst happens, you need only to demonstrate competency to perform the testing. But if you are not certified and experienced you will struggle to demonstrate this in court and may actually demonstrate ignorance and disregard towards the Law.
How will AquaTest Wales help me?
At AquaTest Wales, we have an in-house PAT testing Technician with over 18 years of qualified experience. Unlike most newly trained PAT testers', our Technician is qualified to test both Portable appliances (fitted with a plug), and Fixed Appliances (hard wired to a spur). Additionally, our Technician will perform Microwave Emission Testing on any microwaves.
Our PAT testing service package includes the following in line with HSG107 Guidelines:
1 - User Checks
We will explain the User Checks recommended by the HSE to highlight the need for vigilance from the end-user.
2 - Formal Visual Inspection
We will examine if the equipment is being used as intended, fit for purpose, has any faults and is in good condition.
3 - Combined Inspection & Test
We will use quality, specialised PAT equipment to test your equipment for hidden faults following the visual checks.
4 - Testing, Records & Labelling
We will create a record to log all the equipment we test and apply a sticker showing the tested date and Technician.
4 - Frequency
We will provide advice on frequency of retesting based on HSG107 Table-1. But the decision is yours as you know your facility best. We are happy to discuss this point.
5 - Reporting & Recommendation
We will provide a report explaining what we've done, what we discovered and any recommendations.
AquaTest Wales Knowledge Sharing Zone
What is ‘portable electrical equipment’?
This describes items that can be moved and connected and disconnected from an electrical supply. They generally have a cable with a plug, but not always.
Examples of portable electrical equipment includes kettles, heaters, fans, lamps, microwaves, toasters, radios, TVs, printers, hair dryers, extension leads, laptops, desktop computers, drills, multi-way adaptors & leads and mobile phone charging equipment. Larger equipment like fridges, photocopiers, water coolers, vending machines, washing machines and cookers are also included.
So what about equipment which are hard-wired to a wall fused spur, without a plug? AquaTest Wales have you covered. While some newer PAT qualifications state a tester is not allowed to test these, our Technician is also certified to test these items. Examples include hard-wired hair dryers, cookers, dishwashers and water boilers.
Portable electrical equipment falls into two categories: Class I and Class II based on the type of protection they offer the user. Both require PAT testing to ensure safety is maintained, but they are tested in different ways.
What is a ‘Class I’ electrical item?
Class I electrical equipment includes an earth connection. This is a connection to ground that prevents the user experiencing an electric shock. Damage to the earth connection can pose a serious risk and it is recommended that all Class I equipment have regular PAT tests to check the equipment is still grounded.
The quickest way to identify Class I items is to look at the type of casing it has, and the longest pin on the plug. If it has a metal casing, and the plug has a metal earth pin, then it is a Class I electrical item.
Class I items typically include items like toasters, kettles, microwaves and fridges, but can also include hard-wired items like cookers, hand dryers and hotel hair dryers.
What is a ‘Class II’ electrical item?
Class II items are sometimes referred to as ‘double insulated’ equipment, and have additional insultation which prevents contact with any live parts.
Class II items will have a plastic casing and include items like drills, hedge trimmers, photocopiers and computers. These items normally carry a symbol which looks like a square inside another square to denote the double insulation.
More about Class I and Class II electrical items is available by visiting the HSE webpage at https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf
Who can perform PAT Testing?
At AquaTest Wales, we follow the guidelines from HSG107 and other addendums to the regulations. This tells us the ‘formal visual inspection’ should be carried out by someone who is competent. But the ambiguity in using the term ‘competent’ can be a problem.
In ‘low-risk’ environments, a member of staff with training might be considered competent. But in ‘high-risk’ environments, the same member of staff might still be considered competent.
The issue comes when something goes wrong, you have a near-miss, or your facility is inspected by the HSE or local authority. At that point, the onus is on you to prove why you considered that person to be competent.
When testing and inspecting equipment, experts therefore always advise to use an experienced and qualified professional who is trained to test the equipment types, and who has the correct equipment for the job.
AquaTest Wales employs our own in-house PAT Technician with over 18 years of qualified hands-on experience. Having completed a more detailed PAT training course, not the new short courses, we consider him the best in the market.
Should I PAT test employees’ personal equipment?
As we have already discussed, the person responsible for a facility must ensure that any electrical equipment on their site is ‘maintained in order to prevent danger’.
That means that any employees, guests or contractors visiting your site must comply with your sites health & safety policy, and that might include the need to have their equipment PAT tested.
Important note – If you are operating a holiday destination or accommodations, you may wish to include a clause in the booking agreement that guests may only bring electrical equipment with a recent PAT test. This should provide some extra protection to your site both on a safety and legal basis, just in case anything were to go wrong.
Who is responsible for PAT testing in the workplace?
Best practice is to ensure people are trained to perform the basic ‘User Checks’ on equipment before use, as recommended by HSG107.
Most workplaces will have a staff member or duty holder who is responsible for conducting regular visual inspections of electrical equipment to ensure they are safe to use.
However, in the real world the checks are often limited to ‘User Checks’ and annual PAT testing. To protect the company and people, the duty holder therefore becomes responsible for ensuring PAT testing is completed as the most time effective way of checking the equipment.
What is a PAT test certificate?
PAT testing certificates can be provided to a duty holder or business owner by the company performing the PAT testing. It is a document which records what was completed and can be used to prove compliance to regulators, insurers, customers and staff.
It should be noted however, that as PAT testing is optional and is only a recommended way of demonstrating compliance, issuance of a certificate is not required, and is often not offered.
At AquaTest Wales, we will issue a certificate for your records.
Can I perform my own PAT testing?
Yes…
But for the protection of your employees, guests and visitors you must be competent. And as we discussed in the section ‘Who can perform PAT Testing’ above, your problem is the term ‘competent’.
It is widely accepted in the industry and by many HSE inspectors that PAT testing, when correctly performed, is the best option for proving electrical equipment complies with the regulations.
Important note – By using a company like AquaTest Wales, you will also be protected by that companies’ insurance policies. As that company is then jointly culpable in the event something goes wrong, it is very important to have chosen a company you can trust.
How much does PAT testing cost?
This will depend entirely on the type of equipment and how many items are being tested.
When looking for a quote, you will likely receive a vast array of prices, but if you are a customer of AquaTest Wales for your legionella monitoring programmes, then we are likely to be your best option. Unlike larger companies, we won’t need to charge you a higher rate to cover our travel expenses, and as a local service provider, we care about local business and maintaining our great reputation.
Contact us today for a quote.
Do I need to keep a record of PAT testing?
As per the regulations, there is no legal requirement to keep a record of your electrical testing, but it is strongly recommended that you do. This proves your compliance to the regulators, insurers and customers and helps to protect your business.
We will provide a report explaining what we’ve done, what we discovered and any recommendations. We will also provide a log of every item tested.
Do I need special equipment to complete PAT testing?
Yes. PAT testing requires specialist equipment which is not simply a multimeter, and cheaper PAT testing equipment can be unreliable or dangerous in diagnosing faults.
At AquaTest Wales, we use only professional quality portable PAT testing equipment.
Unlike many companies’, once tested, we will also apply a pass or fail sticker to each tested item to give your employees, guests and visitors reassurance and comfort that you have taken positive steps to ensure their safety. Before testing, we will also discuss whether you wish to enter a re-test date on your stickers.