PAT Testing - Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Portable Appliance?

A piece of electrical equipment which has a lead requiring it to be plugged into an electric mains socket to work.

Basically it's anything with a plug, common examples include:

IT Equipment	PC, printer
Kitchen Appliances	toaster, fridge, kettle
Office Appliances	photocopier, fax machine
Desktop Equipment	fan, lamp

However it can also be fixed equipment when it is connected to the ring main via a spur. Common examples of such equipment includes:

• Air conditioning units
• Heated towel rails
• Water heaters
• Wall-mounted convector heaters

What is Portable Appliance Testing?

Testing portable electrical appliances for their operational safety, and therefore the safety of the people who use them.

Why should we have our electrical equipment tested?

You have a legal responsibility, whether you are self-employed or a large business, to have this safety testing carried out; the Electricity at Work Regulations Act 1989 applies. Some words from the act follow:

“As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as practicable, such danger [...] It shall be the duty of every employer and self employed person to comply with the provisions of these regulations.”

The Health & Safety at Work Act also states:

“all employers have a legal duty to provide safe plant and equipment.”

It's also a good way of getting some peace of mind. No business wants to deal with a fire or electrical accident, and regular testing of your appliances is a very sensible way to reduce that risk.

How do I know if my appliances have been tested?

The first step is clear labelling of items. If you check the appliances around your desk just now you should hopefully see they all carry a "Pass" label such as this:

It's usually on the back of an appliance and/or wrapped around the power cable near the plug. If you see no label then you should probably assume the appliance is untested. Hopefully you won't find any appliances bearing a "Fail" label such as this:

As the Fail label above suggests. An appliance bearing that type of marking should not be used as it has failed to meet the required standards. In some cases such appliances can be repaired, we carry out a selection of the most simple at no extra cost as part of our testing service for example.

Further to labelling we also provide a report as part of our testing service. Such records are extremely useful in keeping a record of not just the safety of your appliances but as part of your standard asset tracking procedure also.

How often do we need the tests carried out?

There are no hard and fast rules in the acts on this. It will be agreed between ADRS and yourself or your building manager/safety officer during the survey. The testing frequency can be between 3 months and 4 years depending on a number of factors including how often is the appliance moved and switched on or off (often for some domestic appliances such as kettles and vacuum cleaners - not so often for copiers, computers).

Does it affect your insurance?

Given the above mentioned legal requirements, your insurance company will assume you are adhering to the rules. You may have a problem with claims if you have not. Some insurers may ask for evidence of the tests before they agree cover. ADRS will provide you with copies of the testing results for your use.

What does it cost?

We are not the cheapest option around, but we do offer a high quality service that we believe justifies the slightly higher price. Our standard rate is £1.39 per item. If you have any queries please contact our helpdesk on 01323 468221 - Remember that the cost of a fire, insurance losses and possible fines from the HSE would be very expensive.