Commercial Property Maintenance- PAT testing explained

February 21, 2018 3:07 pm Published by

As a landlord or a property manager there are things you are told you need to pay for, but you are never sure why. PAT testing is one of these things that sits between legislation and best practice. Just in case you are wondering what the actual requirement is attached to PAT testing, read our Blog;

What does ‘PAT’ stand for?

‘PAT’ stands for ‘Portable Appliance Testing’. In other words “any appliance that has a plug attached to it and plugs into a wall outlet”. There are seven categories of appliance which should be considered for PAT testing. These are:

–   Fixed appliances
–   Stationary appliances
–   IT appliances
–   Moveable appliances
–   Portable appliances
–   Cables and chargers
–   Hand Held appliances

What is a PAT test?

A PAT test is a routine check of certain electrical appliance ensuring they are safe to use. It’s designed to prevent accidents in the workplace. A full PAT test should include a visual inspection and a check using specialist PAT testing equipment.  Some appliances only need a reduced test, called a PAT insulation test.

Once completed, the appliance should be marked ‘passed’ or ‘failed’ and this should be recorded.

Is PAT testing a legal obligation?

PAT testing is not a legal obligation. However, current UK legislation states that businesses must maintain electrical equipment in a safe mode. In addition, they must ensure the safety of the public and their employees. Because PAT testing is one of the most effective ways to do this, particularly for high risk or large, complex environments, it has become a standard way of meeting this legal obligation.

How often should items be PAT tested?

As explained, PAT testing is not a legal obligation but rather a recommendation. Because of this there are no specific requirements for the frequency of testing.  However, the regulations say that the level of precaution taken should be ‘appropriate’ to the risk. With this in mind, you should consider the following criteria to determine the frequency of testing you apply:

  • the risk level of the working environment
  • the electrical class of the appliance
  • the category of the appliance

Express Property can cover off all of your PAT testing needs. Do give us a call if you need some further help.

Categorised in: ,

This post was written by Express Property Services