- WHAT IS PAT TESTING? - PAT testing is the in-service safety testing of portable appliances to ensure that they are safe to use.
- WHY SHOULD MY APPLIANCES BE PAT TESTED? - PAT testing is a legal requirement for anyone who provides, or allows to be used on their premises, any portable electrical appliance that may be used by an employee or member of the public. It ensures compliance with the relevant legislation, including the Health And Safety At Work Act 1973 and the Electricity At Work Regulations 1998, amongst others. The regulation applies to all electrical equipment in industrial, commercial and domestic environments. It also applies to rented properties.
- WHAT APPLIANCES ARE WE TALKING ABOUT? - Basically, anything with a plug on it. Portable means 'can be moved', so a washing machine or computer base unit would apply equally as a kettle or hairdryer.
- WHY SHOULD I USE YOUR SERVICE? - There are many people offering PAT testing, some of whom have no formal training or qualification, and using second hand equipment from the internet. I can offer the peace of mind of a City & Guilds qualification and training. My test equipment is of a very modern standard, and covered by a callibration certificate. I use bar coded identification labels to minimise the risk of error, and computer generated test results.
- WHY MIGHT MY APPLIANCE FAIL THE TEST? - It could be something small and obvious, such as a cracked plug body or damaged flex, or an incorrectly rated fuse. A bad earth connection may cause a failure, as may a breakdown of the electrical insulation inside an appliance.
- WHAT IF MY APPLIANCES FAILS THE TEST? - An incorrect fuse will be replaced, as would a damaged IEC (kettle) lead or a damaged plug, all for a small charge and with your prior agreement. With all other faults, it will be marked with a red 'fail' sticker and should not be used. You should then either have it replaced or repaired, because it is a safety hazard.
