How Often Should PAT Testing be Done?

Knowing when to get a PAT Test is important to the safety of you and the people around you. PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing. Currently, there are no specicfic legal requirements to let people know how often should PAT testing be done. However, there are some basics that everyone follows in regards to the PAT.

In this article first, we will look at the factors that affect the PAT testing. We then understand how frequently you should get your appliances tested.

Important Factors Affecting How Often PAT Testing is Done

As there are no legal requirements on PAT testing frequency, we have put together some important factors. These will help you decide which appliances to get tested and how frequently you do that.

Use of the Appliance

If you are using an appliance or piece of equipment reguarly, then you are going to have them tested more frequently. The more you use an appliance, the more worn down it will get. However, if you are not using an appliance very often, then you are not going to have to get them tested as frequently.

Type of Appliance

The type of appliance also helps in deciding when to get it tested. In general, the devices that are used more, like a hairdryer or iron tend to face more wear and tear. This will mean there is more damage on them.

In comparison to fridge or oven that is stable and doesn’t go through many rigorous activities. They won’t have as much damage. Therfore, they don’t need to get tested as often.

Certain appliances can be broken down into categories to help you decide when to get them tested. You can find out more about these appliances in our article, What is PAT Testing?

• Fixed Appliances
• Stationary Appliances 
• IT Appliances 
• Moveable Appliances 
• Portable Appliances 
• Cables and Chargers 
• Hand Held Appliances

Damage on the Appliance

If you have an appliance that is damaged, it is more likely going to lead to a signigicant hazard. So, it is important that you look after these appliances. You should take care of them with more frequent testing.

Structure of the Appliance

The Portable Appliance Testing also depends on the structure of the appliance. There are 3 classes of electrical appliances. Out of the 3 classes, the one that needs testing the most is Class 1.

• Class 1 – The type of electrical equipment that has only basic insulation and relies on earth for protection.
• Class 2 – The type of electrical equipment that has an extra insulation method so does not rely just on earth for protection. Therefore making it a safer appliance.
• Class 3 – Low voltage items that are classed as the safest of electrical appliances. Their charging leads may need to be PAT tested but will depend on the item.

How Often Should I Get a PAT Test?

It is a little complicated to understand how often the appliance testing should be done. Generally, the clients or the customers need to get the testing done once every 12 months. Even banks and insurance companies suggest this period to avoid any hazard to anyone.

Due to the overly complicated PAT testing theory. HSE has the correct guide for it. Which is a little tough to understand. Although, it provides the general scenarios of portable appliance testing.

The testing is based on the known risk of the working environment. Usually, the office equipment assessment is the default frequency for PAT. It is simple, and everyone understands what it exactly means.

Office equipment includes computers, printers, mouses, fax machines and lamps. These requirements go through the testing process every two years.

To Conclude: How Often Should PAT Testing be Done?

With this article, you should have a clearer idea of when you need to get your appliances PAT Tested. As there are no legal requirments for the testing, it can be hard to decide when to get an appliance tested. If you follow our simple factors of PAT Testing, you will have safe appliances at home and in the workplace.

If you are not sure about specific appliances, you can take the help and guidance of our team of electrical engineers. You can get in touch with IPF Electrical by Contacting Us.

What Does PAT Testing Stand for?

As electrical service professionals, a question we have to answer very often is ‘What does PAT testing stand for?’.

PAT testing is a term used to describe a process of checking portable electrical appliances to make sure they are safe to use. It is also known as Portable Appliance Testing. A PAT aims to prevent accidents due to electrical shock or injury. 

An expert can find out the most common defects in electrical appliances through visual inspection. But some can found only through tests.

Which Appliances Need a PAT Test?

In simple terms, any appliance that has a cable and plugs into a wall should undergo a PAT. According to laws in the UK, there are seven categories of appliances that need PAT testing or visual inspection at least. They are:

1. Fixed appliances like vending machines, industrial machinery, etc.

2. Stationary appliances such as washing machines, tumble dryers, refrigerators

3. IT appliances like floor-standing printers, desktop computers, photocopying machines

4. Moveable appliances like lawnmowers, hedge trimmers, drilling machines

5. Portable appliances such as irons, electric kettles, toasters

6. Cables and chargers for mobile phones, laptops, and other gadgets

7. Handheld appliances like hairdryers, flat and curling irons, beard trimmers

How is a PAT Test Done?

A full-scale PAT is a combination of a visual inspection and a thorough check using special equipment. The appliances are checked for earth continuity, resistance to insulation, and lead polarity. Depending on the nature of use, some appliances only need a visual check or an insulation check. After the PAT testing, an appliance is marked Passed or Failed. 

At IPF Electrical, we keep a record of every test we conduct. We immediately photograph any fault we find during testing and send it to you. You can let us know whether we should repair the damage or replace the part, if possible.

Is PAT Testing Compulsory?

A PAT is not compulsory. But according to current laws in the UK, businesses need to maintain electrical equipment in safe conditions. They are also responsible for the safety of their employees and the general public. PAT is an easy way to meet rule especially in high-risk and large, complex environments. 

Nowadays, insurance companies also ask for PAT testing reports while settling claims to ensure there was no foul play involved in case of an accident.

In case a company fails to meet the required electrical appliance safety standards and an accident occurs because of that, it can lead to 2 years’ imprisonment or an unlimited financial penalty. The final decision depends on the severity of the situation.

How Often Should Electrical Appliances Undergo a PAT Test?

There are no specific guidelines on the frequency of PAT. The regulations only mention that you must take precautions according to the level of risk. 

Experts recommend taking into account the following criteria while deciding the frequency of PAT testing –

1. The level of risk in the environment where the appliance is used

2. Its electrical class

3. Its electrical category

4. Manufacturer’s recommendations

5. History, years, and frequency of use

6. Effects of any modifications or repairs

What to do if you Need a PAT Test?

If you have old electrical appliances that need a PAT or have bought news ones that you have not gotten tested, all you need to do is give us a call. Our team is always there to help you. Our engineers will ask you relevant questions about your appliance and decide the kind of PAT testing it will need. If needed, they will even visit you and conduct an on-site assessment. 

To Conclude: What Does PAT Testing Stand for?

At IPF Electrical, are a team of experienced professionals who believe in honesty and ethics. We are a one-stop solution for any and every electrical need. We design and install new electrical systems with as much ease as we repair existing ones. A combination of training and experience help us handle most electrical or testing issues.

Our pricing policies are open and honest. We also believe in a fixed costing structure. This means, once we give you an estimate, we stick to it. There are no surprises at the end. So, get in touch with us for PAT testing and also tell us if we can help you with anything else!

The Ultimate Guide to PAT Testing

Over the years, our lives have become too dependent on electrical appliances. From mobile phones to coffee machines, microwave ovens, and ACs, we cannot live without appliances. These are all machines that lose their efficiency over time. Hence, regular checks are necessary to ensure they are safe to use. The most common way to do so is a PAT test. Read on to find out more in the ultimate guide to PAT testing.

What is PAT Testing?

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is a combination of visual and electrical tests done on appliances. These appliances are used in industrial, commercial, or public places. The test ensures the equipment is safe to use and pose no hazard for the users or others in the vicinity.

Who can Conduct a PAT Test?

Laws governing electrical safety requirements in the UK do not specify any criteria about who can conduct a PAT test. They only state that anyone competent for the job can do the test. However, that person should have enough technical knowledge and experience.

As a guide to PAT testing, a reliable test operative should:

1) Know about different types of appliances. And the kind of testing they need.

2) Be familiar with various types of testing equipment.

3) Be able to identify likely problems on visual inspection.

4) Be able to judge the extent of mechanical, electrical, and thermal damage.

5) Have the technical knowledge. And have the expertise to prevent any mishaps during testing.

6) Be proficient at detailed record-keeping.

Which Appliances Need to Undergo PAT Testing?

No guide to PAT testing mentions any clear definition of a portable appliance. For the sake of basic understanding, any electrical appliance that has a plug and connects to a socket is eligible for PAT testing. Such appliances are categorised as follows:

1) Adaptors used to increase the number of connection points. 

2) Extension cords for supplying power to devices that have no sockets nearby.

3) Handheld equipment like irons, hair curlers, drilling machines, etc.

4) Portable appliances lighter than 18kg that can be moved during use. For example, kettles and electric radiators.

5) IT equipment like computers, printers, photocopiers, etc. found in most offices.

6) Static equipment without a handle and weighing over 18kg. For example, refrigerators and large TVs.

7) Fixed appliances secured in a specific spot like hand dryers and hot water boilers.

8) Built-in equipment fitted inside designated spaces, like dishwashers and ovens.

How is a PAT Test Done?

Every guide to PAT testing will tell you that the test has two main components: visual and electrical. During the visual test, the electrician reviews the appliance and checks for obvious damages. The electrical is more in-depth and has various sub-levels.

Here is a detailed explanation of how a PAT test is carried out:

A) Visual inspection

When it is done properly, many potentially dangerous faults can be identified at this stage alone. A proper examination should be done by a competent person. As explained above and the findings must be recorded for reference. The surroundings and location of the appliance. Along with its condition and usage history are among the factors that need to be considered during a visual check.

B) Electrical testing

Several types of electrical tests can be conducted depending on the type of appliance and its usage. Some of the common ones are:

a. Earth bond test to ensure there is a safety return path.

b. Insulation tests to check for space between conductors and conductive portions.

c. Differential leakage test to check for free current flowing to earth.

d. Load test to find out the amount of power consumed by an appliance when in use.

e. Flash tests are used to measure current leakage when an appliance is exposed to high voltages. Since this can be potentially destructive, it’s done only on repaired equipment.

To Conclude: The Ultimate Guide to PAT Testing

At IPF Electrical we conduct PAT tests for all kinds of appliances and gadgets used in most homes, offices, and industries. If you think any of your devices need to be checked give us a call.

Our team of experienced electrical technicians is always ready to help you. Meanwhile, you can go through our ultimate guide to PAT testing to have an idea of the process of the PAT test.

What Is PAT Testing?

The use of electrical appliances is very much apparent in our daily lives. At work more specifically it is important to keep people safe and limit any accidents or issues that may arise. In order to do this you need to ensure appliances are tested, and this is where PAT Testing comes in. At IPF Electrical we are specialists in our industry with a number of years of experience. In our latest article we take an indepth look at what is PAT Testing.

What Does PAT Stand For?

The PAT in PAT Testing stands for portable appliance testing. To what degree something is classed as a portable appliance is difficult as there is no definition in current legislation. However, most would class it as ‘any appliance that has a plug and also plugs into a wall outlet’. The word portable sometimes make its a bit misleading, however the 7 main categories that are usually PAT Tested include the following:-

• Fixed Appliances
• Stationary Appliances 
• IT Appliances 
• Moveable Appliances 
• Portable Appliances 
• Cables and Chargers 
• Hand Held Appliances

What Is A PAT Test?

A PAT test is a routine inspection of a variety of electrical equipment to ensure that they are safe to use. The overall purpose of this test is to ensure that there are limited to no electrical accidents which could cause harm or danger to the user. You will be able to identify if an item has been PAT tested as it will be covered by a green sticker that says passed, as well as the date when it was tested and will need to be tested again. 

What Items Should Be Tested

Within the 7 main categories we have listed above, items will also be put into two further categories these being ‘Electrical Class’ and ‘Category’. Both of these are important to determine which items need to be tested. Understanding what both of these areas mean will help to classify products further. In more depth, both of these sections include the following:-

Electrical Classes

Electrical appliances are broken down in Class 1, 2 and 3. Class 1 is the most dangerous and Class 3 is the least dangerous. The class of the appliance helps to determine whether it firstly needs to be PAT tested and also to what degree it needs. For example, Class 1 appliances need a full PAT Test where Class 3 do not need one at all. To break down the classes further, some of the criteria is as follows:-

• Class 1 – The type of electrical equipment that has only basic insulation and relies on earth for protection.

• Class 2 – The type of electrical equipment that has an extra insulation method so does not rely just on earth for protection. Therefore making it a safer appliance.

• Class 3 – Low voltage items that are classed as the safest of electrical appliances. Their charging leads may need to be PAT tested but will depend on the item.

Categories

As mentioned in the first part of this article, there are 7 categories in which appliances are broken down into. Each category will have a selection of appliances which fall into it. It is from here that each appliance is then put into the classing system as noted above. The electrical specialist will then decide if the item is needing a full PAT Test or none whatsoever. By having this grading structure it is easy for electrical specialists to make informed decisions about what needs to be done.

How Often Should Items Be PAT Tested?

There is no specific frequency to how long between each PAT test, however items are placed into a grading criteria once again to determine what is going to be best. Regulators do advise that precautions should be taken that are ‘appropriate’ to risk. To determine what frequency should be applied to each appliance they are graded as follows:

• Risk level of working environment 
• The electrical class of the appliance 
• The category of the appliance 

To break this down further, the environment in which you work in i.e NHS hospital would mean more regular testing than those in an office block. This is where taking appropriate measures to ensure lowered risk is needed. The class and category of the item are also taken into consideration as discussed above in the previous section. 

Alongside looking at ‘appropriate’ precautions, the health and safety executive also recommend that you also take into account the following criteria:-

• Manufacturers recommendation
• The ages of the equipment
• Frequency of use
• Foreseeable misues of equipment
• The history of testing

To Conclude

As you can see the use of PAT testing is very beneficial in many environments. Its primary use as explained thoroughly in what is PAT Testing, is to keep users of a variety of electrical appliances safe. With more of an emphasis placed on health and safety than ever it is vital that you keep up to date with any PAT testing requirements and needs. If you are in need of having PAT Tests completed, or would like some advice then IPF Electrical are more than happy to assist so please do Contact Us.