Durham PAT Testing © All Rights Reserved. | Website Designer
WHAT IS A PORTABLE APPLIANCE?
A portable appliance is any electrical appliance that is connected to the power supply via a plug and socket.
WHY DO I NEED PAT TESTING?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require that employers maintain their electrical equipment to prevent danger to anyone.
This includes communal appliances such as kettles,microwaves etc.
Landlords and owners of Care Homes should as part of tenancy agreements ensure their equipment is safe and well maintained.
Hotels,guest houses,B&Bs where customers and visitors use electrical appliances will also require regular PAT testing.
Some insurance companies will refuse to provide cover without evidence of PAT testing.
WHAT IS INVOLVED?
Each appliance is visually inspected by removal of the plug cover to check wiring and fuse rating.
The flex is then checked for damage and a series of tests carried out with the latest PAT test equipment to check earth bonding, insulation, polarity etc.
Microwaves can also be checked for leakage.
Each appliance is individually labelled and a register of appliance details, serial numbers and test results supplied. Included in price are
FREE replacement of fuses
FREE replacement of plug tops
FREE rewiring of plug tops
FREE outside hours work
FREE mains wiring tests for socket status on all ring mains used
FREE paper reports can also do electronic or hard copies
HOW OFTEN SHOULD IT BE DONE?
The Health & Safety Executive offers no absolute rules on the frequency of the testing and inspection of portable appliances. The Memorandum of Guidance on the Electricity at Work Regulations suggests that 'regular inspection of equipment is an essential part of any preventative maintenance program', but no attempt is made to specify the intervals of time implied by the word 'regular'. The reason for this omission is obvious; different situations will require different test intervals eg portable appliances used in a harsh environment such as drills etc on a worksite or soldering irons in schools may require monthly testing.
However appliances in an office environment that are well looked after will need far less frequent testing.
