Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) company London 

Serviceteam provide Portable Appliance Testing in London, inside the M25 and Surrey, Essex, Sussex, Kent, Hampshire, Berkshire & Hertfordshire.

What is Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)?

Portable Appliance Testing, PAT testing or PAT inspection is a safety check for electrical appliances. The correct term for this process is 'in-service inspection & testing of electrical equipment'.

Why is Portable Appliance Testing required?

When people work with electrical appliances, that appliance must be safe, to prevent harm or injury. Many types of electrical equipment require testing at regular intervals to ensure continual safety. The interval between tests depends on both the type of electrical appliance and where it's being used.

A quarter of all electrical accidents involve portable electrical appliances. An employer must take adequate steps to protect the users of those appliances from both electrical shock and fire hazards. In order to meet the requirements of the 1989 Electricity at Work Act, it is necessary to implement a program of planned inspection and testing of portable appliances.

Who is responsible for portable appliance safety?

If you are a landlord, you are responsible for any electrical equipment that you provide in the property. If you're an employer - large or small - plc or self employed, you are responsible for the safety of any portable electrical appliance in the building, in your office, depot or even on site. That includes any portable appliance that might be brought onto site by employees or contractors.

What is the procedure for PAT testing?

Without getting too technical, a PAT test will include a visual inpection of the device to check for damage e.g a frayed cable or cracked plug. The appliance will then be plugged into an electronic PAT tester. This equipment checks the appliance for:

• Earth Continuity
• Insulation Resistance
• Polarity of Wiring

The appliance will then be issued with a 'PASS' or a 'FAIL'. A certificate will be issued listing the status of the devices. Good practice is then for the owner of the appliances to keep this record in a safe place - obviously repairing or destroying any appliance that has not passed the test.

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) We can test all your portable appliances to ensure they are safe and comply with 1989 Electricity at Work Act - toasters, microwaves, kettles, laptops, portable electric heaters, lamps, televisions, DVD players or air conditioning units.