Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is an examination and test of electrical equipment to ensure they are safe to use.

PAT is required for items that are portable. This may be items such as PC towers, monitors, kettles, toasters and many more.

The frequency of this varies for different sectors, please contact us for an accurate frequency for your site.

AGG ensure that whilst on site carrying out testing, there is minimal to no disruption. We have perfected our methods to offer the most efficient and competitively priced service possible.

Our quotations include free minor repairs, such as fuse replacement, plug replacement and cable repairs which is carried out at the time of testing.

Microwave emission testing is part of our service. A leakage test is to check there is no harmful radiation leaking from the appliance.

Once testing is complete, we provide a detailed excel spreadsheet report with an asset of items tested along with a completion certificate. This is usually emailed over within 2 working days following testing.

Find out more about PAT Testing

What is PAT testing?

PAT testing is a vital part of your health and safety provision.

The process tests portable equipment for electrical safety and helps to ensure a safe working environment.

The Health & Safety Executive states that a quarter of all accidents with electrical equipment are based around portable appliances.

To combat this, regulations protect workers by placing a legal responsibility on employers, employees and even self-employed workers to comply with legislation – and take steps to protect themselves.

This requires regular systems of maintenance, inspection and testing.

The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974) applies in the following circumstances:

Where appliances are used by employees
Where appliances are supplied and/or hired
Where appliances are repaired and/or serviced
Where the public may use appliances (hospitals, schools, hotels, shops etc.)

Who is responsible for PAT testing?

In short, all employers and self-employed workers are responsible. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) require every employer to ensure that work equipment is:

Suitable for the purpose for which it is provided
Used only in the place it is provided
Used under the provisions for which it is provided

PUWER also requires every employer to ensure work equipment be efficiently maintained and kept fit and suitable for its intended purpose.

It must not be allowed to deteriorate in function or performance to such a level that it puts people at risk. This means that regular, routine and planned maintenance regimes must be considered if hazardous problems can arise.

Regulation 3 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 recognises a responsibility that employers and many employees have for electrical systems.

“It shall be the duty of every employer and self-employed person to comply with the provisions of the regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control. It shall be the duty of every employee while at work:

To co-operate with his employer so far as is necessary to enable and duty placed on that employer by the provision of the Regulations to be complied with: and
To comply with the provision of these regulations in so far as they relate to matters which are within his control.”

What are the PAT testing legal requirements?

You can click any of the following to find out more, but the pertinent points relate to duty of care to ensure safety, and the importance of regular maintenance.

“Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”

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

“As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.”

The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 cover risks that can result from using work equipment and the steps that need to be taken to prevent danger in the workplace.

These regulations apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work. PAT testing legal requirements extend from distribution systems to the smallest piece of electrical equipment – and it is clear that there is a requirement to inspect and test all types of electrical equipment.

This requirement is often imposed by insurance companies looking to guarantee a safe working environment.

What needs PAT testing?

The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (4^th Edition) states that all electrical systems and equipment should be maintained if danger would otherwise arise.

Other than fixed installation, which is considered to be the installation from the meter point to the socket outlet, or fuse connection unit, all electrical equipment in an installation, whether permanently connected or connected by plug and socket outlet, should be inspected and tested in accordance with the recommendations contained within this Code of Practice.

The Code of Practice provides guidance on the various equipment types:

Portable appliances or equipment: A portable appliance is an item of equipment less than 18kg in weight that is intended to be moved while in operation, or an appliance that can be easily moved from one place to another.

Movable appliances or equipment (sometimes called transportable): An item of movable equipment is equipment that is either:

18kg or less in weight and not fixed (for example an electric compressor), or
Equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use (for example an air-conditioning unit).

Equipment or appliances for building in: An appliance or equipment for building in is equipment intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general, this will be equipment for general business use, such as printers, scanners, credit card reading equipment, photocopiers etc.

Hand-held equipment or appliances: A hand-held appliance or piece of equipment is equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, such as an angle grinder, iron, hairdryer, hedge-cutter, soldering iron, power drill etc.

Stationary equipment or appliances: An item of stationary equipment or a stationary appliance is equipment that has a mass exceeding 18kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, such as a refrigerator, vending machine etc.

Fixed equipment or appliances: An item of fixed equipment or a fixed appliance is equipment that is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specific location, such as a central heating boiler, hand dryer, fixed air-conditioning unit, bathroom heater, electric tower rail, etc.

Information technology equipment: Information technology (IT) equipment includes computers, mains-powered telecommunications equipment and other equipment for general business use.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)