‘Electrical Equipment Testing’ (EET) formally known as Portable Appliance testing (PAT), is a form of proving equipment is safe to use by way of periodic testing & inspection.
EET is the most common way to ensure your portable equipment is safe for use both in the commercial and residential sector. Our testing is carried out in a 2-step process. We call this Inspection & Testing.
So what’s the process? Well,… its 5 simple but detailed steps.
- Visually inspect the equipment. (This includes a full visual inspection of the item including any accessible wiring.
- Determine which test is the most suitable for the item to be tested. (We pay special attention to sensitive equipment such as computers or lighting consoles to ensure we pick the safest test category.
- We’ll plug in your item to our PAT Tester and determine its test category before going ahead with the test.
- Test your item using our PAT Tester and record the results digitally.
- Apply a testing sticker with dedicated ID number. (This helps to ensure we can easily locate your items in the future and speed up the process)
Following the full completion of Inspection & Testing at your site, we’ll compile a full report and ‘schedule of results’ and send them through to you for your records. We’ll also determine our recommended interval for your individual items dependent on use case and risk. This will be included as part of ‘Schedule of Results’.
Drop us a line today. We’ll be more than happy to help and advise on the next best step or risk asses items in your building.
Visual Inspection
Visual Inspection
Testing
Testing
Detailed Report
Detailed Report
Frequently Asked Questions,….
Regular Inspection and Testing can help prevent fire or electric shock. It helps spot what may be right, wrong or even unsafe. The resulting reports help you highlight what further actions may be required, such as repairs to remedy unsafe items or installations.
There are 2 main categories of test. Visual Inspection and Electrical Checks.
Visual Check: All equipment must first go through a visual check. This includes checking for exposed cables and cable deformities as well as checking physical connections inside sockets (where possible).
Electrical Checks: The equipment will go through a series of checks depending on equipment type and use. This may include Continuity, Earth fault resistance, Insulation Resistance and Polarity.
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.
We will use a dynamic risk assessment to determine the frequency of inspection.
In most cases, this will likely be a year and we will additionally list this in your final test report.
Contact us today for more info. We’ll more than happily advise you on the best course of action.
Interestingly there is no law that says you must PAT test, however there is legislation that businesses must comply with and without ‘PAT testing’ they would find it very difficult to prove they have done everything reasonably practicable should an accident occur. This is where the general term Electrical Equipment Testing (Previously PAT) comes in to play.
Regulations that are specifically relevant to In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment 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
- 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.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states:
“Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and
(b) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking.”
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 states:
“Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is maintained in an efficient state, in efficient working order and in good repair.”
The PUWER 1998 covers most risks that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to achieve compliance with the PUWER 1998.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 states:
“All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.”
“As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger.”
Scope of the legislation
It is clear that the combination of the HSW Act 1974, the PUWER 1998 and the EAW Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work.
It is clear that there is a requirement to inspect and test all types of electrical equipment in all work situations.
