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What Is PAT Testing ?

PAT Testing, or Portable Appliance Testing, must be undertaken in order for companies to fully comply with the Electricity At Work Regulations. Testing is required because, during everyday use, electrical appliances can become worn or damaged.

This can result in appliances becoming unsafe so a proper maintenance schedule is essential for businesses. PAT Testing is therefore a documented method of electrical maintenance which companies are required to undertake on all their portable appliances.

A portable appliance is any piece of electrical equipment that can be moved from area to area and reconnected to the supply via a plug and socket system.

The most important reasons for carrying out Portable Appliance Testing are:

" To comply with the Electricity At Work Regulations
" Risk of fire and injury due to faulty electrical equipment is minimised
" Insurance companies cannot dispute claims for damage through fire because of insufficient electrical maintenance
" The ISO 9000 Quality Assurance Standard requires all companies to comply with the Health and Safety requirements, portable appliance testing is required to comply with this standard.

The regularity with which PAT Testing is carried out depends on the workplace environment and the equipment to be tested.

As a rule of thumb a large drill in a busy workshop will require more regular testing than a computer within an office environment.

When carrying out Portable Appliance Testing the engineer will perform a number of tests on each appliance such as:

" Full visual inspection
" Insulation test
" Earth continuity test
" Earth leakage test

A certificate will then be produced indicating the results of the individual tests. Each item of electrical equipment is given an individual number and identified with a sticker. This provides a clear indication of its pass / fail status and allows the company to schedule further testing.

When deciding which PAT Testing company to contract your work too you must ensure the company has a fully trained and qualified workforce which uses the most up-to-date equipment. This will ensure that the testing is carried out efficiently with the minimum of disruption to the workplace and staff.

Needless to say, but word of mouth is often the most reliable method of finding a PAT Testing contractor that you are able to trust. Ask around and enquire amongst neighbouring companies which contractor they use.