Portable Appliance Testing FAQs
What is it?
Portable appliance testing is an inspection of electrical items to ensure that they are fit for use. This is undertaken by an engineer, qualified to spot electrical flaws of damaged cables for instance.
Why PAT test?
Day-to day use of portable electrical appliances inevitably causes wear and damage to leads, plugs and to the item itself. If undetected and unresolved this may in turn result in an electric shock or fire. Employers, institutions and landlords therefore have a statutory responsibility to ensure that all electrical appliances used by employers, guests and tenants are safe.
What is the legal requirement?
All systems shall be maintained so far as is reasonably practically possible to prevent danger – Regulation 4 (2) Electricity at Work Act.
Who does it apply to?
All commercial environments, retail, education, industrial, health, charities and anywhere the public reside or visit.
Landlord legal requirements
Anyone who lets residential accommodation such as houses, flats, bedsits, holiday homes, caravans and boats as a business activity is required by law to ensure the equipment that they supply as part as the tenancy is safe.
The supply of goods occurs at the time of the tenancy contract. It is therefore essential that property is checked prior to the tenancy to ensure that all goods are safe condition.
A record should be made of all the goods supplied as part of the tenancy agreement and of tests made on these goods. The record should indicate who carried out the checks and when they did it. It is strongly advisable to have the equipment checked before each let. It would be good practice to have the equipment checked on regular intervals. Thereafter you should obtain and retain test reports detailing the equipment, the tests carried out and also the results.