What is Portable Appliance testing?
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is an important part of your Company’s or Organisation’s responsibility towards Health & Safety. It is carried out by doing a series of specialised test procedures on your portable electrical appliances to ensure they are working correctly and safely.
What is a Portable Appliance?
A portable appliance is defined as an item that is not part of a fixed installation but is connected to such an installation by way of a flexible lead, plug and socket. Therefore this means that any items such as electric drills, kettles, fridges, microwaves, PCs, printers, monitors, extension leads etc. will all come under the portable appliance umbrella. Larger items such as photo copiers, fax machines, scanners etc. are also categorised as portable appliances.
Will the testing be disruptive?
At Plym PAT Testing, we pride ourselves on having well trained, organised and knowledgeable technicians therefore ensuring that any potential downtime for our customers is agreed in advance and kept to an absolute minimum – to compliment this we can work outside of normal office hours.
How long will the testing take?
The timescale is determined on your estimated number of items to be tested
Does equipment have to be turned off for testing?
Yes. It is impossible to carry out a PAT test with the unit switched on. The test invariably involves a thorough inspection of the mains plug and fuse, which is impossible to do without switching the unit off. Do your servers and similar IT equipment need to stay on during office hours? Plym Pat Testing can come out of your business hours to accommodate.
Are our technicians accredited?
Yes, our Technicians are specifically trained by the Institute of Electrical Engineers in PAT Testing, and have City and Guilds 2377 Certificate of Competence for the Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
What do I get on completion of PAT testing?
Once our Technician has completed the work on site you will receive a full detailed jargon free report inclusive of display certificate for your premise.
Is PAT Testing Compulsory?
Claims that PAT Testing is required by law and that the client is breaking the law by not having it done are simply not true. The law does require however that employers, including self-employed, ensure that all electrical equipment that they provide in their business is safe and properly maintained.
Do you have to PAT Test new Equipment?
The HSE (Health and Safety Executive) outlines the procedure for new equipment on their site: “New equipment should be supplied in a safe condition and not require a formal portable appliance inspection or test. However, a simple visual check is recommended to verify the item is not damaged.”
What happens when an Item Fails?
Most failures are easily dealt with on site and you will be advised of the best course of action on the day of the inspection OR in the final report issued to you on completion of the job.
Any further questions?
Get in touch with Plym PAT Testing by the following methods:
- 01752 936156 / 07766 35 6677
- Info@plympattesting.co.uk
- #Plympattesting