PAT testing: your questions answered
Portable Appliance Testing
Whether you’ve seen the little sticky labels or you’ve had a test engineer visit your office, most of us are at least aware of PAT inspections; but understanding appliance testing and your legal responsibilities to appliance safety can get a little tricky.
We’ve put together answers for some of the more common questions surrounding PAT testing. Hopefully you’ll find your own questions answered right here; but if not, feel free to get in touch!
What is PAT testing?
PAT (or ‘portable appliance testing’) assesses ‘portable’ electrical appliances for any faults which could make them unsafe to use.
A PAT combines a visual check of your appliances for any damage or defects, and a functional test of the appliance’s electrical insulation and (if applicable) earth connection.
Don’t let the name catch you out; the ‘portability’ of some of the appliances which should be tested (including desktop computers and dishwashers) is definitely up for debate!
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Whether you’re a landlord or business owner in England and Wales, there’s no strict requirement to carry out a PAT inspection regularly.
However, landlords and business owners do have a legal duty to protect the health and safety of their employees or tenants, and to ensure all electrical equipment is safe to use.
For landlords, this includes HMOs (houses of multiple occupancy), MUFBs (multi-unit freehold blocks) and holiday lets.
The easiest and quickest way to ensure the safety of appliances is with a PAT inspection carried out by a professional PAT electrician.
What about PAT testing requirements in Scotland and Ireland?
In Scotland, the law demands that appliances in rental properties must be tested at least once every 5 years. This doesn’t apply to tenants’ own appliances; just the ones that come with the property.
As for Ireland, all businesses are legally required to arrange testing for portable appliances at least once a year.
Isn’t PAT testing now obsolete?
It’s true that the Institution of Engineering and Technology (IET) have removed references to ‘portable equipment’ and ‘PAT’ in the most recent edition of their Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th edition, published in 2020).
This is to make the guidelines more straightforward and easy to understand; particularly as mentioned earlier, PAT covers many appliances which few people would consider to be truly portable.
But the need to ensure the safety of electrical appliances hasn’t gone away; and PAT testing still offers the best solution for keeping your appliances safe.
Should homeowners get their appliances tested?
There’s no PAT requirements for homeowners; but it’s still a good idea to get your appliances checked from time to time.
The only exception is self-employed people who work from home; they have a duty to ensure the safety of all the electrical equipment they use.
Again, this doesn’t mean a PAT inspection is strictly required; but PAT testing is still the most efficient solution to give your appliances the all-clear.
And in practice, the average sole trader working on a computer or laptop probably won’t need to carry out a PAT; a simple daily visual inspection will do!
What if my employees are working from home?
Whether employees are coming into work or working from home, employers’ health and safety obligations still apply.
If you’re supplying electrical equipment for your employees who are working from home, we’d recommend getting it tested before you hand it over.
If employees already have the equipment in hand, you could schedule a team meeting date where everyone can bring in their equipment to get tested.
How often should I get my appliances PAT tested?
The recommended frequency of PAT testing generally depends on a few things; including the types of appliances being tested, how often they’re used, and the kind of work environment they’re used within.
It’s generally recommended to arrange a PAT once every year, or more frequently for higher-risk areas (such as industrial sites, and spaces where the public will be using your appliances such as gyms and arcades).
Is PAT testing the same thing as EICR testing?
They’re both electrical safety tests, but each one tests different things.
The PAT tests portable appliances, while an EICR (or ‘electrical installation condition report’) tests the wiring and built-in appliances within a property.
Find out more about EICRs in our handy guide to electrical safety certificates.
Which appliances should be PAT tested?
Generally speaking, if an appliance can be moved and has a power lead with a plug on the end, it should probably be tested.
This includes appliances such as:
- Computers
- Printers and scanners
- Wifi router boxes
- Television screens, projectors and interactive whiteboards
- Cookers and fridges
- Power tools
- Vending machines
The old ‘moveable and fitted with a plug’ rule of thumb can be a bit misleading with some appliances, though. For example, does a laptop need a PAT inspection if it can run on battery power?
No; but the laptop’s charging unit should be tested. This also applies to rechargeable power tools and other battery-powered items; only the charger should be tested.
And to add to the confusion even further, some ‘fixed’ appliances – such as hand dryers and heaters – are still tested under PAT.
Do brand new appliances need testing?
New items are typically checked by manufacturers prior to sale, so they’re usually safe to use right out of the box (assuming there’s no obvious damage to them).
Can PAT testing be done without unplugging appliances?
Most appliances will need to be unplugged from the mains and plugged into testing equipment in order to carry out a full PAT.
If an engineer claims to have carried out a PAT test without unplugging anything at all, they’ve probably only carried out a basic visual inspection at most!
Do I need a professional PAT tester, or can I carry out a PAT myself?
A PAT can technically be carried out by anyone, as long as they’re competent, they’ve had the necessary training, and they have the right testing equipment.
If you’d rather do it yourself, there are plenty of training providers online offering PAT courses; but in practice, hiring a professional tester is often quicker, more convenient and better for your own peace of mind.
JC Electrical UK’s experienced testing engineers can provide both PAT inspections and EICR visits across London to help you keep your business or rental property safe. Call our team on 0208 839 9561 or email info@jcelectric.co.uk for more info!
More than just a London based electrician
With JC Electrical (UK) Ltd, electrical contractors in London you can expect a professional service tailored to your individual needs. Not only do we offer Testing Maintenance, & Certification and test and inspection. We also provide commercial Emergency callouts.
We can supply, install, test and repair everything from safety and security systems to smart lighting, specialist Lighting and emergency lighting , air conditioning and bespoke commercial solutions including network cabling, fire alarms and door entry & access control installers.
Our professional NICEIC-approved electricians can install modern, reliable EV charger (Electric vehicle charging) points across West London and the rest of the capital.
Our services for homeowners include
Audio Visual, Burglar Alarm / Home security installations, home Smart Lighting and Solar Panel Installation.
Additional reading
Our site also includes some really great articles and answers some faqs.
For more details, or for a free quote, call JC Electrical (UK) Ltd on 0208 839 9561 today or get in touch via our contact form.
NICEIC Approved Electricians + Registered Competent Person
