What Is PAT Testing?
Portable appliance testing (PAT) is the term used to describe the examination of electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they are safe to use.
A brief user check can be a very useful part of any electrical maintenance regime. However, more formal visual inspection and testing by a competent person may also be required at appropriate intervals, depending upon the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used.
How Often Do I Need My Appliances Testing?
The frequency of inspection and testing depends upon the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. For example, a power tool used on a construction site should be examined more frequently than a lamp in a hotel bedroom. Most people have there items checked every 12 months. Always check with your insurer’s, they may insist on a certain frequency.
Do I Need To Test New Appliances?
Not necessarily. New equipment should be supplied in a safe condition and not require a formal portable appliance inspection or test. However, a simple visual check is recommended to verify the item is not damaged. May venues still insist on PAT Testing and we would advise that you check with them before your booking.
Do I Need A Qualified Electrician To Carry Out My PAT Testing?
No. The person doing the testing needs to be competent and skilled enough to carry it out correctly. In a low-risk environments, a competent member of staff can undertake visual inspections if they have enough knowledge and training. However, when undertaking combined inspection and testing, a greater level of knowledge and experience is needed and the person will need the right equipment to do the tests, the ability to use this test equipment properly and the ability to properly understand the test results.
Why Do The Prices I’m Quoted Vary So Much?
Cheapest is very rarely best value and as in any industry there are good and bad tradesmen. The PAT Testing industry is no exception. Due to the costs involved including the running and maintenance of vehicles, test equipment and software, labels, the engineers salary, on going training, the office administration costs etc it just isn’t possible to test correctly for some of the unrealistic prices we have seen advertised, corners will be being cut in the testing procedure in order to test more items, faster. It’s false economy.
A professional PAT Testing company should always supply you with a full detailed report to prove the testing was actually carried out. Many simply supply a list of items with a pass or fail result which isn’t proof that any testing was carried out. Its an asset list at best. If you have had your testing previously carried out by a large national company take a look at the test results, are the readings all the same? This would not be the case if correct testing had been carried out as each item would have different earth continuity, insulation resistance test results etc. If you are unsure whether your current report is genuine then please feel free to send us a copy and we can assess it for you.
Is Fixed Wire Testing (EICR) A Legal Requirement?
Fixed Wire Testing is the testing of the electrical installations within a building to ensure they are safe & compliant. employers are legally required to ensure, as far as is reasonably practical, the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Fixed wire testing is a crucial part of that requirement. Your insurers will also insist on it being carried out and up to date.
How Often I Need To Have My Fixed Wire Testing Carried out?
Electrical wiring deteriorates over time so your electrical installations should be tested often enough that there is little chance of deterioration leading to danger. Commercial buildings usually require testing every 5 years and Industrial buildings every 3 years. Always check with your insurer’s if you are unsure. You don’t want to be left uninsured.
Any part of an installation that has become obviously defective between tests should be de-energised until the fault can be fixed.
The HSE’S Fee For Intervention:
As of the 1st of October 2012, the HSE has introduced “Fee for Intervention“, a scheme that will allow the HSE to recoup losses by fining any business or organisation that is found to be in breach of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
The Fee for Intervention will apply whenever an inspector identifies a contravention of health and safety law;
Is of the opinion that the contravention is serious enough to require written notification (i.e. it is a material breach); and
notifies the person contravening the law of their opinion, in writing, by a notification of contravention, Improvement or Prohibition Notice, or prosecution.
The HSE are set to charge fines of £124 PER HOUR if a breach is found, which means failing to comply just once with regulations could easily carve a hole in the profits of a large company, while delivering a massive blow to smaller ones. Even worse, there’s no way of knowing how much you’ll have to pay until the very end of the investigation.
Once the HSE have detected an issue there is little you can do to mitigate a fine, so make sure to be proactive, take the initiative and get your electrical installation and appliances tested today. Pinnacle Testing Solutions Ltd will ensure all your appliances (PAT Testing) and electrical installation (Fixed Wire Testing) are tested correctly and that any potential risks of a future breach is minimised, helping to protect your workplace.