Your Guide to Portable Appliance Testing

Published February 28, 2020 Tags:

Portable appliance testing is a necessity in the UK. To withstand safety regulations, all portable appliances and electrical devices must be tested, to ensure they meet promoted, safety standards. From electrical drills on construction sites and hair dryers in hairdressers, to computers and chargers in offices, all electrical equipment, within access of the public should be PAT tested.

Testing portable appliances is highly common for workplaces or for any areas used by the public. However, the testing of appliances is also recommended within domestic situations, especially for the likes of landlords, ensuring that appliances are safe for purpose. After years of use, it can be difficult to gauge whether electrical appliances are still safe for purpose or whether any faults have presented themselves; this is the key aim of testing portable appliances, for all individuals with a legal duty of care.

Here at Peninsula Electrical Services, we are passionate about promoting safety guidelines. Our aim is to educate the nation on staying safe, along with the importance of testing and checking appliances; for usability and also health and safety.

Here’s your guide to portable appliance testing, covering why its important to regularly check your appliances, along with how to complete a PAT test. If you require any support with portable appliance testing, feel free to contact our team of specialist electricians.

Read on for your guide to portable appliance testing, covering all things electrical safety…

Here’s everything you need to know about portable appliance testing, in response to our frequently asked questions here at Peninsula Electrical Services.

What is portable appliance testing?

Portable appliance testing is the process of testing the electrical safety of appliances, usually completed through a visual inspection and electronic tests. The test is a legal requirement, especially against the work regulations 1989 act, prioritising health and safety surrounding electrical equipment.

You’ve probably seen stickers, with dates and signatures on all electrical equipment outside of your home. This is to show how frequent PAT tests have been completed, if they’ve been completed at all, while also presenting the equipment’s safety standards.

Why portable appliance testing is a necessity?

Electrical equipment or appliances can become faulty. After years of use, their functioning may reduce, along with their safety levels. With this in mind, PAT tests are in place to ensure that electrical equipment is safe for its purpose.

For workplaces, electricity at work regulations 1989 is a legal requirement to follow, ensuring that all individuals using electrical appliances or within the surrounding area are safe. It is a duty of care of employers to maintain the frequency of inspection and testing of appliances, to promote safe conditions.

Imagine you work on a construction site. Tools and electrical equipment are commonly used. They may be used for years on end due to their expense. Now imagine the damage a faulty electrical appliance could create. This is why frequent, professionally completed portable appliance tests are a necessity; to protect every individual using those appliances.

Portable appliance testing is also a necessity for the likes of landlords, to ensure they are promoting a safe residing environment, by adhering to legal health and safety requirements.

After reading our guide to portable appliance testing, if you’re unsure whether you should be completing PAT tests within your company or commercial premises, feel free to contact our team today.

What is the process of portable appliance testing?

When PAT testing equipment, the testing procedure should always be completed by a qualified electrician, with knowledge of electrical safety. This is a necessity to ensure that adequate testing procedures are followed, along with prioritising health and safety while completing the PAT test. The PAT tester will visually inspect electrical appliances, their plugs and leads to ensure full functionality is available. Yet, the priority of a PAT test is the safety of that functionality.

The test will set out to measure the safety of electricity moving through electrical appliances, ensuring that it withstands and adheres to health and safety requirements. This will then present the appliances safety level to be used for a further period of time. Portable appliance testing should usually be completed between every 24-48 months, ensuring that nothing has changed since the prior PAT test.

Portable appliance testing will be completed on items such as plugs and sockets, computers, printers, white goods, extension cables, lighting and further electrical equipment, commonly found on construction sites.

Our service here at Peninsula Electrical Services

Here at Peninsula Electrical Services, we are NAPIT approved, fully qualified and certified electricians. We’ve completed vast portable appliance tests for both commercial and domestic clients.

We are passionate about maintaining health and safety, while educating our customers on electrical safety. We can complete the initial testing procedure for you, helping you gauge the safety and functionality of your electrical appliances. Once the PAT test has been completed, you will receive:

• A list of each appliance which has been tested including its name, location and description.
• A set of test results for each appliance which has undergone the PAT test procedure.
• A list of any failed appliances, along with their reasoning for failing the PAT test.
• A visible pass or fail sticker for each appliance, including the test date, the future recommended PAT test date, and the inspector’s signature.

The above details are provided to offer peace of mind, and to also legally cover both yours and our backs to ensure that portable appliance testing has been carried out to a high standard, meeting legal requirements. Our electrician, on site, completing your PAT tests will be happy to run through the findings of your PAT tests, along with a guide on portable appliance testing moving forward.

To arrange your PAT tests, or for more information, get in touch with our team today. We also specialise in further electrical services, from rewires and the installation of security systems, to commercial electrical systems.

We hope that our guide to portable appliance testing has increased your knowledge on the importance of electrical safety. However, if you require greater support, feel free to contact our team today.