PAT testing is full of loads of different stuff, so much so that we've found something for every letter of the alphabet!
A is for Appliances (portable ones, that is)
The main reason we carry out PAT testing. Appliances are dotted here, there and everywhere around our offices, homes, industrial areas and public places, and PAT testing refers to the process where any appliance deemed ‘portable’ is tested to ensure that it isn’t dangerous for humans to use.
B is for Barcode Scanner
These handy devices allow you to scan previously PAT tested items and recall the results you received. Perfect for those contractors carrying out testing in the same areas.
C is for Classes
All portable appliances are subject to a class qualification.
- Class I items have single insulated wiring and an earth connection. They have no symbol.
- Class II items have double insulated wiring and no earth lead. Symbol is a double box.
- Class III items use low voltages lower than 50 V. They’re supplied with a marked transformer supply
D is for DIY
Did you know PAT testing doesn’t have to be required out by an electrician? Absolutely anyone can do it yourself with PAT testing, provided you’ve taken a training course and taken the exam to become a fully qualified PAT tester!
E, naturally, is for Electricity
Without this wondrous stuff, PAT testing wouldn’t even be necessary. Electricity is used so much in modern society it’s easy to forget that the stuff can, and will kill if it gets the chance, which is why several regulatory bodies make sure that companies must carry out processes such as PAT testing and fixed wire testing to ensure premises are safe to actually be worked in.
F is for Frequency of Testing
Despite what some people trying to sell you PAT testing might tell you, the process is NOT required once a year in most installations. It varies drastically depending on the type of area where the testing must be carried out, with public areas such as leisure centres and construction sites having to complete the process much more frequently than other areas.
G is for Guide to PAT Testing
Attendees on our courses are given a selection of comprehensive learning notes that let you know all about how PAT testing works, the requirements made of you and how exactly the process is carried out.
H is for Handheld
PAT testers can be big and bulky, but many people prefer to use handheld devices as they allow the PAT tester to check appliances like computers under desks much easier than lugging around one of the bigger PAT testers which aren’t ideally suited for under-desk work.
I is for IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment
A comprehensive guide on electrical regulations, the IET are the go-to source for information on PAT testing and other types of electrical testing. This book contains loads of handy diagrams and information to do with PAT testing, and the IET is one of the regulatory bodies covering PAT testing itself.
J is for Judgement
Sometimes an item doesn’t need a portable appliance test, and it is up to the judgement of the person whether it needs it or not. This is particularly true of brand new equipment, as it should have been rigorously checked out by the manufacturers before being sent out in the first place.
On older equipment, checking them over for obvious damage before doing the test can help you decide whether it’s really necessary or not.
K is for Knowledge
Even if you don’t expect your employees to carry out PAT testing, ensuring they have adequate knowledge of electrical safety is an essential process for making sure they, and you, are protected against accidents that could be avoided with the correct training.
Some of it may seem like common sense, but it really can’t be stressed enough how important it is to promote electrical safety.
L is for Landlords
Landlords, or anyone who rents out a property to a tenant to be more specific, must make sure that any portable appliances they supply to tenants have been subjected to rigorous PAT testing. Faulty appliances are a huge danger, and landlords can be held liable if it’s proven that accidents were caused by supplied appliances.
For more information on landlords and PAT testing, check out this blog.
M is for Microwave Leakage Detector
As part of the PAT testing process it is now required for microwaves to be assessed to see whether they’re leaking out too much radiation. This is a separate process carried out with a dedicated piece of test equipment called a microwave leakage detector, but still comes under the rulings of PAT testing.
N is for NAPIT
The governing regulatory body NAPIT are not only The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers, but they’re also the people who endorse our very own PAT training DVD so you know we’re not just saying we’re qualified to do your training!
O is for Observation
Although most PAT testing is done using a dedicated test instrument, the actual observation of portable appliances before PAT testing is also an essential process. You should encourage staff in your building to regularly check over their used portable appliance such as computers regularly, which will allow them to see if there’s any obvious damage that might make the equipment unsafe.
P is for PAT testers
They come in all kinds of shapes and sizes, but PAT testers are an essential tool for ensuring that the portable appliance is in tip-top working order. They’ve evolved over the years and now include clear pass/fail indication, configurable tests and all kinds of other fancy stuff.
Q is for Qualifications
As we’ve already said, absolutely anybody can become a PAT tester, but it is absolutely essential that you have the correct qualifications to make sure you adhere to the regulations.
R is for Regulations
PAT-testing regulations aren’t that simple. There’s at least four different regulatory bodies that cover PAT testing and you’re meant to adhere to them all to promote electrical safety, which can be a tad daunting.
The main regulations come from the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, Management of Health an Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare Regulations) 1992 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998.
S is for Safety
It’s an obvious point, but the most important part of performing PAT testing as an employer is that it ensures the safety of your company and those working within it, both from accidental damage and any legal repercussions that might come your way as a result of faulty portable appliances.
T is for Testing
The actual process of carrying out PAT testing is a varied one, and depends on the type of appliance you might be testing at the time. For example, testing a lead is likely to be a vastly different experience from testing a kettle, often requiring different forms of attachments to carry out the test.
Test results should be logged after testing and the appliance should be certified as safe or unsafe with a sticker.
U is for USB Downloadable PAT Testers
Many PAT testers allow you to download the information gained during results to a PC, interact with test data and create custom reports for customers using different software packages
V is for Voltage
It’s important that you get the right PAT tester for the voltages you’re testing, as not all PAT testers can cope with all kinds of voltage. This refers back to the class of the equipment, and the voltage that has to be put through it.
W is for Wiring
There are all kinds of wires. As part of the PAT test, wires that are connected to portable appliances must be tested as well, but wires that are built internally in sockets are part of a different test, the fixed wiring test.
X is for Xmas Lights
Most companies have them lingering somewhere, but they have to be PAT tested as well and usually aren’t!
Bet you didn’t think we’d get one for X!
Y is for Yearly Calibration
Whenever you’ve got any kind of electrical test equipment, it’s important to get it regularly calibrated to ensure that results are still accurate and there’s no damage to your PAT tester.
Z is for Zeroing
Used for nulling the resistance of test leads, allowing them to be tested in a different manner.
Well that concludes the A-Z of PAT testing! Who knew PAT testing could relate to every single letter of the alphabet so well?
