DO I NEED TO PAT TEST
Although this is NOT a legal requirement, insurance companies and health & safety representatives will practically always insist that this be carried out. Furthermore, it is YOUR responsibility to ensure that the electrical appliances in your environment are safe to use because you, your staff, colleagues, customers and visitors are all at risk if an appliance is not tested and is faulty.
HOW WE DO IT
Our engineers are fully qualified and trained in inspecting and testing electrical appliances. We use battery-operated handheld machines and plug IEC leads straight into them to test for earth, insulation and polarity. Other appliances are tested by plugging into the machine and applying a probe lead to contact an earth point on the appliance. Our engineer carries out a Class 2 insulation test if the appliance is not earthed. All screwed plug tops are undone, and wires, fuses and terminals are checked to ensure that everything fits correctly. All leads are inspected to check for any cuts etc.
COSTS
The price we quote to our client is always bespoke because this depends on the number of appliances to be tested, the types, and any other specifications to be taken into consideration. Sometimes a job will warrant charging a flat site fee or daily rate, depending on the particular dynamics of that job. However, we will always give you value for money through a competitive quote and commitment to delivering the highest quality and personal service.
FREQUENCY
As a rule, PAT is done annually. However, there is no law stating this. It is always down to your individual RAMS – Risk Assessment Management System and each site’s RAMS will vary. We recommend that higher risk appliances are tested each year and examples of these are white goods such as kettles, toasters, microwaves, heaters and extension leads. Power tools are now tested every three months due to their high frequency of usage and higher voltages. IT equipment is generally tested every 3-4 years, although the leads should still be tested more frequently.