Portable Appliance (PAT) Testing
What is Portable Appliance Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing, also known as PAT Testing, is effectively a series of thorough examinations that should be applied to a range of electronic appliances used in business. It includes visual examinations and electronic tests to make sure that the devices are working as expected and as demanded by safety regulations in place.
Our team of PAT Testing Contractors is qualified to perform these examinations and to provide you with the confirmation that all of your appliances are up to scratch, or tell you where improvements need to be made.
Portable Appliance Testing Regulations
At the time of writing, the existing regulations demand that all employers who have portable electronic appliances in the place of work have them tested to ensure that they perform properly and do not cause risk of damage or injury. This includes a responsibility to keep portable appliances in good order through proper maintenance.
PAT testing allows any PAT testing contractor who has experience or knowledge to check that appliances are working as intended. Though there is no legal obligation to provide a PAT test, you do have a legal obligation to ensure that your appliances are safe to use and can face legal action if they are later found to not be suitable for use.
Our Expert Portable Appliance Testing Procedure
One of our PAT testing contractors will work with you to find out which appliances should be tested to make sure you’re keeping them within the conditions mandated by existing regulations. Then, they will carry out a visual inspection of each appliance, as well as any cables, leads, or plugs used with it for signs of damage.
After this, our PAT testing contractors will inject test signals to see that the cables and appliances are working as they should be. There are three classes of portable appliances that we test:
Class One
This category refers to any appliances that rely on earth for protection; typically the class that is most prone to hazards, such as vending machines, floor printers, electric heaters, and more.
Class Two
This category refers to appliances that have been built with insulation already fitted and don’t rely on earth for protection, such as lawnmowers, drills, TVs, and more.
Class Three
This category refers to appliances that are low voltage and while they are typically the safest class of portable appliances, including laptops, torches, and the like, their leads should still be PAT tested.
Once our PAT testing contractors have complete the testing procedure, we will provide you with certification deeming your equipment to be safe, proving (if necessary) that your company has taken the necessary steps to ensure the safety of all its portable appliances.
