What needs PAT testing?
The term PAT testing, which is an abbreviation for portable appliance testing, can be a little misleading; many people think that it’s only for the testing of portable equipment, or small electrical items. However, the official name for this testing service is actually “in service inspection and testing of electrical equipment” and it pretty much covers everything that can be plugged into an electrical power supply, from hair dryers and drills to vending machines and industrial machines in factories, to comply with certain regulations, they all need inspecting and testing for potential or actual defects and faults. Most electrical safety defects can be found by visual examination but some types of defect can only be found by testing with specialist equipment by a competent person, ideally at appropriate intervals. Testing intervals depend upon the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used.
Each electrical item will fall into one of the following types
Portable appliance of equipment
Movable appliance or equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment
hand held appliance or equipment
Information Technology equipment
Fixed equipment
Below is a simplified reference to help you decide how often you should be considering having your electrical equipment PAT tested in order to comply with the various government regulations and some insurance policies. However, please note that user checks and other general recorded checks should also be completed by members of staff and responsible person within the environment, we would be happy to advise you on this routine.
The Law and why have PAT test?
There is currently no strict legal requirement for PAT testing. However The Government has put regulations into place that relates to the maintenance of electrical appliances and the most effective way to ensure that these regulations are met is PAT testing, So even though PAT testing itself is not legally required, it simply helps you to protect yourself by ensuring that you are complying with the government regulations and laws. Not complying with the regulations can result in hefty fines or even imprisonment, and void insurance policies.
Health and Safety
The UK Health and Safety Executive along with insurance companies will expect you to perform PAT testing to ensure that you are compliant with certain regulations including:
Health and Safety at Work Act of 1974
The Electricity at Work Regulations of 1989
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations of 1998
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations of 1999
Workplace (health, safety and welfare) regulations 1992
The housing act 2004 (England and Wales)
The housing act 2006 (Scotland)
Equipment used by the public
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 24 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 24 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 12 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Hotels – class 1 equipment (used by staff)
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 60 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 60 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 24 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Hotels – class 1 equipment (used by public)
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 12 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 12 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 6 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 24 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 6 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 36 months
Offices and shops – class 1 equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 60 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 60 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 24 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 48 months
Industrial including commercial kitchens – class 2 equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 24 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 24 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 12 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 48 months
Industrial including commercial kitchens – class 1 equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 24 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 24 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 12 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 24 months
Schools – class 2 equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 48 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 48 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 48 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 48 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 48 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 48 months
Schools – class 1 equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 12 months
Information Technology equipment -PAT test every 12 months
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 12 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Fixed appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 12 months
Construction sites 110v equipment
Stationary appliance or equipment – PAT test every 3 months
Information Technology equipment – N/A
Movable appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 3 months
Portable appliance of equipment * -PAT test every 3 months
hand held appliance or equipment * – PAT test every 3 months
* 110 volt earthed centre tapped supply 230 volt portable or handheld equipment must be supplied via a 30 mA r.c.d. and the intervals between inspections and tests reduced