Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
Legal requirements affecting electrical equipment.
The Health & Safety at Work etc. 1974 puts a duty of care upon both the employer and employee to ensure the safety of all persons using the work premises (this includes the self-employed).
The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 establish the requirement for risk assessments for the health and safety of both employees and for other people arising out of or in connection with the conduct of the business. For more details see www.hse.gov.uk.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Regulation 4 states that all systems shall be maintained to prevent danger, Regulation 2(1) defines both the electrical system and electrical equipment.
Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 – this only applies to work equipment used by workers at work and includes all equipment (fixed, portable or transportable) connected to a source of electrical power. Regulation 6 introduces a specific requirement for the inspection of work equipment by a competent person, the results of the inspection should be recorded.
Frequency of Testing
The Institution of Electrical Engineers Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment suggests the following frequency of inspection and testing of equipment.
| Type of Premises |
Type of Equipment |
Class I |
Class II |
| Formal Visual |
Inspection & Testing |
Formal Visual |
Inspection & Testing |
| Construction Sites |
S,IT,M#,
P#,H#
|
1 month |
3 months |
1 month |
3 months |
| Industrial including commercial kitchens |
S, IT |
None |
12 months |
None |
12 months |
| M |
1 month |
12 months |
3 months |
12 months |
| P, H |
1 month |
6 months |
3 months |
6 months |
| Equipment used by the public |
S, IT |
monthly |
12 months |
3 months |
12 months |
| M,P,H |
weekly |
6 months |
1 month |
12 months |
| Schools |
S,IT |
None |
12 months |
12 months |
48 months |
| M,P,H |
4 months |
12 months |
4 months |
48 months |
| Hotels |
S,IT |
24 months |
48 months |
24 months |
None |
| M,P |
12 months |
24 months |
24 months |
None |
| H |
6 months |
12 months |
6 months |
None |
| Offices & Shops |
S, IT |
24 months |
48 months |
24 months |
None |
| M, P |
12 months |
24 months |
24 months |
None |
| H |
6 months |
12 months |
6 months |
None |
Key:
| S |
Stationary equipment |
| IT |
Information technology equipment |
| M |
Movable equipment |
| P |
Portable equipment |
| H |
Hand-held equipment |
| # |
110V earthed centre tapped supply. 230V portable or hand-held equipment must be supplied via a 30mA RCD and inspections and tests carried out more frequently |
