PAT Testing Do's

Pat Testing Advice

1. Become a Competent Person

By law, you are required to become Competent at Pat Testing if performing it. You can become competent by attending a Pat testing training course venue and passing its one day course.

2. Follow the IEE Code of Practice

The IEE Code of Practice manual offers a code of practice for the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
It includes advice on compliance with health and safety legislation. Be sure to read it and become familar with it before starting to Pat Test.

3. Perform your Tests in correct order

By performing the correct tests in the correct order you are ensuring that whatever result you may receive (Pass or Fail) it will be accurate.

4. Purchase quality Pat Testing Equipment

By purchasing quality Pat Testing Equipment you will be in no doubt that your Pat Test will be accurate. Try and avoid second hand equipment.

Also, bear in mind that your Pat testing equipment will eventually require re-calibration even if you did buy it new.

5. Do not rush your Test

Trying to reach your monthly Pat Testing Bonus? Typically Pat Testers receive bonuses for the more electrical equipment they test.

It is benefical to perform as many tests as possible but do them properly and do not rush! You may find yourself out a job!

6. Do not touch the Appliance

The majority of your tests are going to Pass but don't assume they are all. One day you may be in for a nasty shock if your touching the appliance when your testing it.

7. Do not put a Pass Label on a Failed Appliance

Ok so you have failed an appliance but can't be bothered filling out a failed sheet for your Pat testing records. My advice, fill in the failed sheet. It is illegal to pass a dangerous appliance!

Why Pat Test?

Pat Testing is a Legal Requirement

The Electricity at Work Regulations requires that employers maintain their "electrical systems" at work to prevent any danger to anyone. This is a legal requirement.
Legislation

The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, the Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.

The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 puts the duty of care upon both the employer and the employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises. This includes the self employed.

Electrical Systems

The term "Electrical systems" refers to the installation as well as all appliances which are connected to it. Qualified electricians normally inspect the installation at periodic intervals. This period varies depending on various attributes.

Maintenance of these electrical appliances can be carried out in-house or by hiring an external company to carry out the Pat Testing. Performing Pat Testing in-house results in cost saving and more flexibility when Pat Testing is carried out.

The IEE Code of Practice

The IEE Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Equipment sets out the standard to which each appliance is comprehensively tested.

Its recommended that you use the latest computerised Pat Testing Equipment or hire a professional company which can offer you this service.

All portable appliance will need testing such as IT equipment, microwaves and kettles. The inspection and testing should be carried out by a fully qualified electrical testing engineer.

Reports & Certification

On completion of the testing you should be issued with a safety certificate and a detailed report that provides information on each individual item.
All items that pass the inspection & testing should be labelled with a safety sticker and a unique barcode number that helps you keep track of all portable appliances in your company.
Repairs

Minor faults found during the course of an Inspection can be repaired as you find them and the appliance re-tested. More serious faults will always be quoted for first.

For more Information, Visit http://www.pat-testing-uk.info

What Is Pat Testing?

What is PAT Testing?

Pat Testing in the UK
In the United Kingdom, Portable Appliance Testing is a process by which electrical appliances are routinely checked to see if they are safe.

When people work with electrical appliances, Health and safety regulations say the appliance must be safe.

Carried out at regular intervals.
Testing should be carried out at regular intervals to ensure continual safety; the interval between tests depending on both the type of appliance and the environment it is used in.

Pat Testing Evidence

Many people will have seen evidence of portable appliance testing in the little labels stuck to power cables around their offices.

Many people assume (incorrectly) that all appliances have to be tested every year, but this is not the case.

All that (British) law requires is that the appliances are safe (as far as is reasonably practicable).
However, guidance from the Institution of Electrical Engineers (IEE) and the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) suggest intervals for inspection and testing, ranging from 3 months (for construction equipment) to 4 years (computers in offices).

Meaning of "Pat Testing"

Portable Appliance Testing is abbreviated to 'PAT'. The phrase 'PAT Testing' is in fact a tautology in the same way that some people say 'LCD Display'.

However, the phrase is commonly used in the industry even though most people realise it is incorrect.

The correct term for the whole process is 'In-service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment'.

Which products do we have to PAT Test?

Anything that can be moved has to be maintained. The reason for this is that most of the damage occurs to the power cord or the plug and the chances of this happening are higher if the appliance can be moved.

So not only small portable appliances have to be tested, equipment such as fridge freezers and washing machines need to be Pat Tested.

Handheld items such as drills and hair dryers can suffer damage more easily. For this reason they are maintained more frequently than stationary items such as fridge freezers.

Become A PAT Tester in One Day!

Take a one day pat testing training course at venues throughout the UK and Ireland. Become comptetent and able to perform Portable Appliance testing after just one days training.
Check out www.pat-testing-training.com for further information. Courses at £195 + VAT.

Our service includes

Included in the service:

FREE Replacement of plug tops & fuses where required
Full asset report along with detailed test results in a presentation folder
Electronic copy of results on CD Rom
Full failure report detailing reasons failed
All standard Pass or Fail labels
A certificate of Electrical Appliance Testing
Free scheduling to notify when your items are re-due testing

Check it out now: http://www.pat-testing-services.co.uk

Nationwide Pat testing quotation!

Want a free pat testing quotation for your company?

http://www.pat-testing-services.co.uk/quotation.html

http://pat-testing-services.co.uk can offer you a free online quotation.

Have a look today!

Pat testing services

Want pat testing but don't have the training?

Well we have the solution, why not visit our Pat testing services website at: http://www.pat-testing-services.co.uk, there you'll find a free online quotation form which you can complete. Our prices are competitve and we always deliver a quality services.

We hope to hear from you soon - call us direct on 0800 247 1600.