Portable Appliance Testing – also known as PAT testing – is the examination of portable electrical equipment and appliances to ensure they are safe to use in the working environment. PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing. It is a routine inspection conducted on electrical appliances and equipment to make sure they can be used safely in the workplace and any other public environment. Is the item regularly maintained? Planned maintenance could reduce the need for frequent ‘PAT Testing’ Insulation testing involves connecting the tested appliance with the PAT. Typically, a test voltage of 500V DC is then applied to the mains plug terminals. This will ideally result in a high resistance reading being displayed on the PAT screen. However, insufficient insulation between the live parts and earth will result in a current flowing from the insulation to the PAT via the protective earth conductor. The low level of insulation will also be highlighted in the PAT reading.

Unless you have a very good understanding of the workings of electrical equipment, and the relevant training to be able to use and fully understand portable appliance testers, it is not recommended that you carry out your own PAT test. It could put you, your business and other users at risk. Always seek a fully qualified and experienced professional to carry out the testing. The NEW 5th Edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 also place a legal responsibility on employers (or ‘duty holders’) to ensure electrical equipment does not pose any risk to users.

This should only be carried out by a competent person with the correct training and equipment. It is strongly recommended to employ an experienced and qualified PAT tester for the safest results. Who uses the item? A trained member of staff is a lower risk than an untrained member of the public Find out more about Class I and Class II electrical items How often do I need a PAT test? (In service inspection and testing of electrical equipment) However, most workplaces will have staff members or duty holders who are responsible for conducting regular visual inspections of electrical equipment to ensure they are safe. They are also responsible for ensuring annual PAT tests are carried out and recording results. Duty holders should receive additional training to ensure they have the knowledge and understanding to carry out the role competently. What is a PAT test certificate?

One of the most common questions we are asked is “how often do I need to do the PAT Testing?”. Without sounding flippant, the simple answer is it is up to you. PAT Testing should be carried out with a ‘risk based approach’. What is meant by that is you know your appliances, staff, work environment and methods better than anyone. It is therefore up to you to decide how much risk there will be from your appliances. You should carry out a Risk Assessment which will help you determine how often the PAT Testing needs to take place in the different areas of your company. There is no legal requirement to keep a record of your electrical testing, but it is strongly recommended that you do to prove your compliance to regulators, insurers and customers. This helps to protect your business. Can you PAT test with a multimeter?

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PAT testing is key to ensuring adherence to essential safety standards. It's regarded as the easiest and most effective way of ensuring that workplace electrical appliances are safe to use. As previously mentioned, the expected regularity of PAT testing will depend on the categorisation of electrical appliances and the findings of risk assessments. How Do You Use a PAT Tester?