Special Rates for Charities, Community and Voluntary Organisation’s
PATtest4U™ are proud to be able to offer registered charities, community groups and voluntary organisation a special discounted rate on all their Portable Appliance Testing requirements, just ask for more information.
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Portable Appliance Testing FAQ
If you still have question about Portable Appliance Testing [PAT testing] please call us and one of our staff will be more than willing to assist you.
What is Portable Appliance Testing aka PAT Testing?
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is an important part of a company’s or individual’s responsibility to health and safety. This is done using a series of specialised testing procedures on your portable appliances.
Frequency of inspection & testing of equipment for Offices and Shops
PATtest4U™ are specialists in the field of Portable Appliance Testing and always use The Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment, as published in their Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment as a guide to their inspection and testing frequency.
The information on the suggested initial frequencies given below is more detailed and specific that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it.
The following is the IEE’s Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment for Offices and Shops.
| Type of Equipment |
User Checks
|
Class I Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class I Combined Inspection & Testing
|
Class II Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class II Combined Inspection & Testing
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery |
None
|
24 Months
|
48 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Information Technology |
None
|
24 Months
|
48 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Moveable |
Weekly
|
12 Months
|
24 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Portable |
Weekly
|
12 Months
|
24 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Hand-held |
Before Use
|
6 Months
|
12 Months
|
6 Months
|
None |
Please be advised of the various notes associated with the above-mentioned table.
Frequency of inspection and testing
The relevant requirement of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is that equipment shall be maintained so as to prevent danger. Inspection and testing are means of determining whether maintenance is required. The frequency of inspection and testing will depend upon the likelihood of maintenance being required and the consequence of lack of maintenance. No rigid guideline can be laid down, but factors influencing the decision include the following:
- The environment – equipment installed in a benign environment, such as an office, will suffer less damage than equipment in an arduous environment, such as a construction site.
- The users – if the users of equipment report damage as and when it becomes evident, hazards will be avoided. Conversely, if equipment is likely to receive unreported abuse, more frequent inspection and testing are required.
- The equipment construction - the
- The equipment type – an
Source: Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment
Frequency of inspection & testing of equipment for Hotels
PATtest4U™ are specialists in the field of Portable Appliance Testing and always use The Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment, as published in their Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
The information on the suggested initial frequencies given below is more detailed and specific that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it.
The following is the IEE’s Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment for Hotels.
| Type of Equipment |
User Checks
|
Class I Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class I Combined Inspection & Testing
|
Class II Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class II Combined Inspection & Testing
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery (Note 5) |
None
|
24 Months
|
48 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Information Technology (Note 5) |
None
|
24 Months
|
48 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Moveable (Note 5) |
Weekly
|
12 Months
|
24 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Portable (Note 5) |
Weekly
|
12 Months
|
24 Months
|
24 Months
|
None
|
| Hand-held (Note 5) |
Before Use
|
6 Months
|
12 Months
|
6 Months
|
None
|
Please be advised of the various notes associated with the following table.
Frequency of inspection & testing of equipment for Schools
PATtest4U™ are specialists in the field of Portable Appliance Testing and always use The Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment, as published in their Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
The information on the suggested initial frequencies given below is more detailed and specific that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it.
The following is the IEE’s Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment for Schools.
| Type of Equipment |
User Checks
|
Class I Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class I Combined Inspection & Testing
|
Class II Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class II Combined Inspection & Testing
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery (Note 4) |
Weekly
|
None
|
12 Months
|
12 Months
|
48 Months
|
| Information Technology (Note 4) |
Weekly
|
None
|
12 Months
|
12 Months
|
48 Months
|
| Moveable (Note 4) |
Weekly
|
4 Months
|
12 Months
|
4 Months
|
48 Months
|
| Portable (Note 4) |
Weekly
|
4 Months
|
12 Months
|
4 Months
|
48 Months
|
| Hand-held (Note 4) |
Before Use
|
4 Months
|
12 Months
|
4 Months
|
48 Months
|
Please be advised of the various notes associated with the following table.
Equipment used by the public testing frequency
PATtest4U™ are specialists in the field of Portable Appliance Testing and always use The Institute of Electrical Engineers (IEE) suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment, as published in their Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
The information on the suggested initial frequencies given below is more detailed and specific that the Health & Safety Executive (HSE) guidance, but is not considered to be inconsistent with it.
The following is the IEE’s Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment suggested initial frequency of inspection and testing of equipment for Equipment used by the Public.
| Type of Equipment |
User Checks
|
Class I Formal Visual Inspection
(Note 1) |
Class I Combined Inspection & Testing
|
Class II Formal Visual Inspection (Note 1)
|
Class II Combined Inspection & Testing
|
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stationery | (Note 3, Note 4) |
Monthly
|
12 Months
|
3 Months
|
12 Months
|
| Information Technology |
Monthly
|
12 Months
|
3 Months
|
12 Months
|
|
| Moveable |
Weekly
|
6 Months
|
1 Month
|
12 Months
|
|
| Portable |
Weekly
|
6 Months
|
1 Month
|
12 Months
|
|
| Hand-held | (Note 3, Note 4) |
Weekly
|
6 Months
|
1 Month
|
12 Months
|
Please be advised of the various notes associated with the following table.
Note 5 – Initial frequencies of inspection & testing
Equipment provided in hotel rooms is equipment used by the public and should be inspected and tested in accordance with Equipment used by the Public. The frequencies given on the Hotels page is for equipment used by Hotel staff (excludes commercial kitchen which comes under Industrial including Commercial Kitchens.