In recent blog posts, Martindale Electric's Steve Dunning and Paul Wilson outline PAT testing and training requirements. In doing so, they have answered many common PAT testing FAQs. This blog summarises the information presented by Dunning and Wilson.[1]  

Hengfeng supply professional and honest service.

Quick Links

Why Is PAT Testing Important?

In short, to ensure user safety. Visual inspections of portable appliances are good but they can only tell you so much; for instance, you cannot tell whether there has been damage to the insulation within an appliance from a visual inspection nor can you know whether the earth bond (safety earth connector) within the electrical item has become disconnected. Only PAT testing the instrument will reveal these kinds of faults and help you to protect yourself, your staff, and/or your clients from electric shocks or injuries, and, in the worst cases, fatalities. In a recent blog post, Martindale's Steve Dunning asserts that  

'According to The Health and Safety Executive, 25% of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances. From these figures, it is clear that a large number of incidents and injuries caused by misuse or faulty electrical equipment can be prevented with proper electrical checking, inspection and safety testing'.[2]

Furthermore, maintaining compliance with PAT testing guidelines, and therefore the law which requires employers 'to ensure that their electrical equipment is maintained in order to prevent danger'[3], is often an essential condition of many insurance policies.

What Equipment Needs PAT Testing?

Martindale's Paul Wilson explains that the Electricity at Work Regulations 4.2 defines electrical equipment as

'[including] anything used, or intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy.'[4]

Based on this definition, Wilson advises that the Electricity at Work Regulations apply to all portable and transportable appliances. Therefore, regular PAT testing of these instruments can help ensure compliance with previously stipulated maintenance requirements.

Who Can PAT Test?

Absolutely any competent person can PAT test. The IET 5th Edition Code of Practice defines a competent person as

'A person possessing sufficient technical knowledge or experience to be capable of ensuring that injury is prevented.'[5]

Generally, a person considered to have acceptable knowledge or experience will have adequate:

• Knowledge of electricity
• Understanding and practical experience of the system to be worked on
• Awareness of the hazards that may arise and the precautions that should be taken

What Qualifications Do You Need to PAT Test?

Technically you don't require any official qualifications to PAT test. However, you must be able to prove competency. The best way to do that is to enrol on a PAT testing course and gain a certificate of competency. Attending a PAT testing course in person is preferable to watching a video/online course as 'traditional' training offers the chance both to learn the theory and get experience using PAT testers to check various appliances. Video or online training courses are convenient and provided a useful way of learning over the pandemic; nevertheless, the additional practical component and opportunity to learn from experienced industry professionals means traditional 'classroom' courses will offer a superior, more comprehensive training experience.

At PASS Ltd, we offer two PAT training courses delivered in multiple locations across the UK.

1-Day PAT Testing Competency Course

Ideal for businesses wishing to train staff members to PAT test, this practical- and theory-based course offers the chance to use a range of PAT testers to check various appliances, and covers the following topics:

• Overview of PAT testing and what it is
• Why PAT testing is important
• PAT testing requirements
• The IET Code of Practice
• Basic electrical theory

The course concludes with an open-book, multiple-choice exam. Once you pass this exam, you will be awarded a Certificate of Competency in PAT Testing.

More Information

2-Day City & Guilds -77 PAT Training Course

Upon completion of this theory-based course and passing the online exam, you will be awarded a recognised qualification in PAT testing from City & Guilds, a leading qualification body within electrical training. This course is recommended for those wishing to PAT test professionally and/or set up a PAT testing business. Those responsible for maintaining portable appliances in workplaces may also find this course helpful. We recommend that you are familiar with the following before undertaking this course:

• IET Code of Practice 5th Edition
• Electrical theory
• Ohms Law
• Basic maths

More Information

Who Needs PAT Training?

Anybody responsible for the inspection, testing, and maintenance of portable appliances whether employed or self-employed must be trained in PAT testing. This includes:

• Nominated staff members responsible for maintaining equipment in offices and other workplaces
• Landlords
• Caretakers/janitors
• Charity/second-hand shops selling recycled electrical goods
• Anyone offering PAT testing as a service

How Often Should PAT Testing Be Carried Out?

Recent changes to the IET Code of Practice (5th Edition) advise that test frequency should be specific to each appliance. Guidelines highlight eight risk factors (see below) that should be considered when ascertaining how often to test an appliance. This means it is no longer acceptable to test all appliances annually as some may require more frequent checking, while others may not need electrical testing at all.

What Are the Risk Factors Highlighted in the IET 5th Edition Code of Practice?

The IET 5th Edition Code of Practice instructs individuals to consider the following eight risk factors when assessing how often appliances need to be PAT tested.

1. Environment: appliances used on construction sites are more likely to sustain damage compared to those used in offices; therefore, construction site appliances will require more frequent testing.
2. Users: how vigilant are the users of the equipment? Are they inclined to report issues or not? You should take this into account when deciding on a test frequency.
3. Equipment Construction: the structural integrity of the appliance, or its Class (Class I or Class II), should be considered when determining test frequency.
4. Equipment Type: handheld equipment is more likely to sustain damage than fixed equipment; this means that handheld equipment may need to be tested more frequently.
5. Frequency of Use: equipment that is constantly used will undergo more stress over its lifetime, increasing the chances of damage; therefore, continually used equipment will need to be checked more often than sporadically used instruments.
6. Installation Method: when ascertaining PAT testing frequency, the installation method should be taken into account, particularly when assessing fixed equipment.
7. Previous Records: looking at an appliance's past records provides information about the previous testing frequency and the instrument's maintenance history both of which are important factors to consider when determining test frequency going forward.
8. Functional In-service Life: some appliances, such as certain pieces of IT equipment, have an intentionally short service life and may need to be tested and/or replaced more frequently.

Read More About Updates to the IET 5th Edition Code of Practice

Further Information

For more help and advice regarding PAT testing, our PAT courses, and/or our extensive range of PAT testers and PAT testing Kits, including models by Martindale, please contact our team on 931 329 or via our online form.

[1] Information for this blog was gathered using the following sources:

• Steve Dunning, How safe is your workplace?, last accessed 06 April
• Paul Wilson, PAT Testing Code of Practice, last accessed 06 April

[2] Dunning, How safe is your workplace?

[3] HSE, PAT ' Portable appliance testing FAQs, last accessed 06 April

[4] HSE, The Electricity at Work Regulations. Guidance of Regulations, p.7, last accessed 06 April , and Wilson, PAT Testing Code of Practice

[5] Dunning, How safe is your workplace?

Check out our great package deals. Get everything you need in 1 quick & easy step & save money.

We make it easy to find the right tester for you.

Portable Appliance Tester Buying Guide

• Decide on how much you want to spend on a PAT Tester. The truth is, how much you spend should reflect on how you plan on testing and tagging. The more you spend ' the more you'll get. Perhaps you're testing irregularly, or maybe you're doing it as a full time job. This means you need to be realistic about what your money will get you.
• Capturing data quickly is important for people testing regularly. There's no question about it -data capture is one of the most important parts of the job. This means if you're testing in high volume, the information you collect can then be used when re-testing, making it a major time-saver. On the flip side, if you're not doing many tests, paying extra for a tester with data capture isn't going to be a deal breaker.  
• Think about the number of tests you'll be performing. Make sure you buy an appliance tester that will fulfil your testing requirements. So if you're doing test and tag as a business, you'll inevitably be conducting a lot of tests and require RCD testing and 3 phase compatibility.  In this case, investing in test and tag equipment with those extra features will save you time and money in the long-run.

Basic appliance tester

$600 - $ 

For more information, please visit 10KV PA tester.

What you'll typically get: Mains powered, basic test features, no data capture

Image: Primetest 125 EL

Who it's for: Anyone who wants an appliance tester that will just get the job done, which is usually for people who don't do a lot of testing.

Key Features: Mains powered tester. You'll most likely need to log data by hand. Able to conduct your basic tests, such as Class I and II and extension leads. You won't be able to do RCD testing.

Most popular: Primetest 125 EL and Wavecom TNT -el 

Mid-range appliance tester

$ - $

What you'll typically get: Battery operation, RCD testing, Internal memory

 

Image: Metrel DeltaPAT BT

Who it's for: People who want to step up from a basic tester and perform a wider range of testing at a faster speed.

Key features: Conducts all of your regular testing, plus additional tests such as RCD testing. More likely to have greater than 10 AMP operation and be 3 phase compatible. Tester will be battery powered, so it'll offer great portability and save you time finding power sockets.

Most popular: DeltaPAT BT, PAC DL, and Wavecom TNT RCD 

High-end appliance tester

Over $

What you'll typically get: Print tags on the spot, quick re-testing

 

Image: ProTag Elite Kit

Who it's for: People who are testing and tagging in high volume and require a complete solution to quicken their testing times. Ideal for test and tag businesses.

Key features: Often come with a printer and scanner, which offers re-testing and data capture in a quick and painless way. The ability to generate reports and automate your testing through software. 

Most popular: TnP-500, Delta Pro Print Pack, Primetest Elite+, Primetest Pro Kit, and Seaward Elite+ Kit

Key Features

Leakage Current
This is mandatory test on appliances with internal switches or micro switches and requires the appliance to be energised. As not all portable appliance testers contain this feature, you'll want to have it added if you're offering test and tag as a service. 

Battery Power
Having a battery powered tester will give you greater portability and make it easier to test hard to access areas. Without it, you'll need to constantly find mains power to do your testing ' something that is not particularly ideal for certain environments.

RCD Testing
Commonly known as a safety switch, portable RCD's (Residual Current Device) does require regular testing. This is not a standard feature that will come with all testers, so this choice will be based solely on whether you are planning on testing RCD's.

Internal Memory
By having internal memory functionality you'll be able to store test results directly onto your tester, which will then enable you to upload your results to a PC via the supplied software. This is a major time-saving option that is highly recommended for high-volume testing. Once you're at the point of testing 100's of appliances daily, you'll be glad you decided on getting this feature. 

250V Insulation
This is specifically used for sensitive electronic equipment, whereby running the 500V insulation test may potentially cause damage. It'll also give you the ability to test power boards and surge protected devices. On that same note, if you're running a test and tag business ' this is a highly recommended feature that'll give you additional testing options. Although some testers don't have this option, a Leakage Current test will also be adequate.

3 Phase Testing
This usually requires purchasing a standalone adapter to test 3 phase appliances and extension leads. Depending on which single phase tester you're using you may be able to purchase an adapter that will connect to your existing machine otherwise you can purchase a standalone adapter that works independently of your single phase tester. When deciding on which 3 phase adapter to go for its essential to know which items you'll be testing, as each adapter serves a different purpose.

Internal Isolation Transformer
An internal isolation transformer is an important feature when testing portable RCD's. It stops the trip current used to trigger the PRCD from continuing onto the main switch board thus mitigating disruption when the power is turned back on. Many of the current units have this feature built in but older machines may not and may require purchasing an external isolation transformer that sits between the PRCD and the wall outlet.

Customisable Test Sequence
Some of the current range of testers on the market allow you to customise the test sequence for when testing single phase appliances. As an example this feature allows you to run a longer leakage test for items that take time to start or you can perform multiple earth bond tests when testing a power board before moving onto the insulation and polarity tests. Units that have the ability to customise the tests allow you to make your machine work as per your requirements while still complying to the AS/NZS: test and tag standard.

Tag Printer/Scanner Compatible
Some of the appliance testers on the market allow you to connect barcode scanners and printers to help speed up the testing and retesting of appliances. This ability to print tags means less manual handwriting which dramatically increases the testing and tagging speed thus benefiting your customers and clients.

 

If you want to learn more, please visit our website insulation resistance tester for transformers.