We get asked a lot whether or not PAT testing is a legal requirement. To put it simply, PAT testing specifically is not a legal requirement – as outlined in the Electricity at Work regulations 1989. However, the law does require that an employer ensures their electrical equipment is maintained to circumvent danger.
Though PAT testing isn’t technically legally required itself, it is advised and it is a requirement for the following:
- 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
Even though PAT testing is not a legal requirement, it will be expected by insurance companies and the UK Health and Safety Executive. Failing to ahere to these regulations can result in hefty fines up £20,000 and even prison time!
What is PAT testing?
Electrical equipment that is not properly maintained and regularly repaired could pose a potential hazard to staff and customers. Visual examination can help determine most electrical defects, but others can only be discovered through proper testing.
PAT testing can help identify if maintenance is required. If you opt to have your appliances PAT tested, you must understand what the test includes.
Our PAT testing service consists of:
- A fully qualified PAT testing engineer to visit your premises
- Every item comprehensively tested with approved test equipment
- Each item PAT tested will have a unique NIC EIC approved label
- Full NIC EIC approved asset register and certificate
- Incorrect fuses changed free of charge
- Damaged plugs replaced free of charge
Therefore, it can be an effective way to ensure your electrical equipment is in working order, effectively giving employers confidence and comfort knowing that their appliances meet the requirements.
The industries that benefit most from PAT testing are:
- Hospitality
- Construction
- Medical Facilities
- Educational establishments
How to maintain electrical equipment
Even though there is no legal requirement for PAT testing, you should carefully consider the consequences of electrical equipment that is left unchecked and could lead to faults.
While you can perform visual inspections, unless you’re confident in your knowledge of the inner workings of electrical appliances and skilled in handling them safely, you shouldn’t test electronics yourself. Instead, PTS compliance has expert PAT test engineers, providing peace of mind on all your electrical supplies.
The law does not specify how a PAT test needs to be done and how often an employer should do it. The general rule is to consider the type of equipment and how frequently it is being used. If the appliance sees regular use, testing is a sufficient maintenance method. We would recommend that PAT testing be carried out every two years.
We recommend labelling equipment that has been tested to have a sufficient record of when you last did it to effectively monitor when it needs to be inspected again.
If you want your PAT Testing to be performed by one of our fully qualified engineers that are highly trained to discover and fix any faults – call us today on 0800 644 5400! Otherwise, we can provide a full suite of electrical inspection, testing, installation and reactive maintenance services for businesses of all sizes.