Did you know that you don’t have to be a qualified electrician in order to carry out PAT testing?
As long as you’re competent to do so, absolutely anyone can check electrical appliances for safety. The most commonly accepted way to be seen as competent is to take a PAT training course and be presented with a Certificate of Competency in PAT testing.
What is PAT Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing, also known as PAT testing, is the examination of portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use. It generally includes three steps;
- Regular, informal checks by the electrical equipment’s user(s)
- A formal visual inspection of the equipment
- A manual examination of the equipment with a portable appliance tester device (the PAT test)
Any portable electrical appliance (anything with a lead and a plug) needs to be PAT tested. Some examples include laptops and computers, kettles, handheld drills, printers, microwaves etc.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
PAT testing is not a legal requirement. The law does state that any electrical equipment in the workplace must be maintained to ensure it is safe and doesn’t pose any risk to the people using it. It doesn’t, however, specify how the equipment should be maintained, or how often.
PAT testing is recommended by professionals as the best way to meet these health and safety obligations and to protect yourself and your employees.
What does electrical PAT testing involve?
Generally, PAT testing involves three steps, user checks, a visual inspection and the manual PAT test using a portable appliance tester.
User checks
All users should be trained on how to use the equipment safely. This includes understanding the risks associated with the equipment and how to look out for signs of danger. Every individual should be able to visually check the appliance for any signs of damage and understand whether or not it is safe for use. They should also be able to highlight potential hazards such as trapped cables or water hazards.
Visual inspection
A formal visual inspection should be carried out by a competent member of staff or a professional (an electrical engineer). The HSE says that this process normally flags up 90% of issues with electrical equipment. The equipment should be switched off and unplugged before carrying out this stage of the inspection.
- Check the plug for any signs of damage. This includes cracks, burns, or bent pins. When checking the wiring, you should ensure that the live, neutral and earth wires are all tightly connected.
- Check the cable for any signs of damage. This could be cuts or fraying. Any exposed wiring is a fail.
- Check the appliance itself for damages. This includes cracks, burns, corrosion or other signs of wear and tear.
- Check the mains socket for damages. This doesn’t relate to the appliance itself, but it’s worth checking for cracks, signs of overheating and any loose fittings on the plug socket.
- Residual current device (RCD) checks. The RCD’s test button will trip if the current flowing through the live conductor is different to that in the neutral.
Manual Examination
Once the visual inspection is complete, it’s time for the manual examination. This is the stage of the Electrical PAT Testing where the portable appliance tester device is introduced. This device will test the appliance for earth continuity, lead polarity and insulation resistance.
Depending on the results, the appliance will receive a pass or fail sticker. Failed appliances should not be used, and should be removed for disposal or repair. Once repaired, it must pass an additional PAT test to be considered safe for use.
Who can carry out a PAT test?
Electrical PAT testing can be carried out by any competent person with the relevant training and equipment. This will likely be a qualified electrician. Interested in learning how to perform PAT testing and other electrical procedures? You might want to consider completing an electrical course.Get in touch with The Skills Centre to learn more about becoming an electrical engineer, or read more about our courses on our website!
