What is PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Testing
What is the legal requirement for PAT Testing
What is the legal requirement for PAT Testing
PAT stands for Portable appliance testing, which is the inspection and testing of portable and transportable electrical equipment to determine if the equipment is safe to use. PAT consists of a visual inspection and a series of electrical tests to ensure the safety of an electrical appliance
What is the legal requirement for PAT Testing
What is the legal requirement for PAT Testing
What is the legal requirement for PAT Testing
The answer is no, PAT is not a legal requirement, however portable appliance testing (PAT) is recognized as being the most efficient and cost effective way of complying with current legislation laid out in The Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR 1989), The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) & The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
"Can I do my own PAT testing in the UK"
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Electricity at Work Regulations state "Anyone who inspects and tests an electrical system is, in law a duty holder and must be competent to undertake such work"
Duty Holder
This is anyone (employer, employee, self employed person etc.) who has 'control' of an electrical system (portable appliances are an electrical system). Control in this sense means designing, installing, working with or maintaining such systems. Duty Holders have a legal responsibility to ensure their own safety and the safety of others whilst in control of an electrical system. The EAWR do not specifically mention inspection & testing: they simply require electrical systems to be "maintained" in a condition so as not to cause danger. However we only know if a system needs to be maintained if it is inspected & tested.
Competent Person
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
"Anyone who inspects and tests an electrical system is, in law a duty holder and must be competent to undertake such work"
Competent Person
A competent person is, someone who has had the relevant training and possesses the required qualifications to undertake the in-service inspection & testing of portable appliance equipment.
This person/persons should receive regular on-going training and be up to date with current legislation, and The IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
Electrical System
This is anything that generates, stores, transmits or uses electrical energy, from a power station to a wrist watch battery. The latter would not give a person an electric shock, but could explode if heated, giving rise to possible injury from burns. Hence portable appliances are electrical systems.