The Importance of Portable Appliance Testing

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is a testing that should be carried out by various organizations to adhere to the Electricity At Work Regulations. This testing is mandatory because portable appliances will become damaged or worn out upon everyday use. When appliances are worn out, they are not safe for the users and that's why proper maintenance is needed. Besides it is intended to check the safety of portable appliances, the reports of the PAT testing also become a proof that an organization has conducted regular portable appliances maintenance.

Reasons Why Organizations Need To Take PAT Testing

- To adhere to the Electricity At Work Regulations

- To minimize risk of injury and fire because of faulty electrical appliances

- This testing is required to meet the standards of ISO 9000 Quality Assurance, especially about the health and safety standards.

- Organizations cannot get reimbursement from insurance company if any fire damage is caused by lack of electrical appliances maintenance.

Companies are not the only organizations that are required to take PAT testing. Public organizations, governmental organizations, educational institutions and other organizations that utilize portable appliances are required to take this testing. Kitchen appliances, home electronics, computers, and office electronics are just some of the appliances that need to be tested regularly.

How often does PAT testing need to be carried out?

Unfortunately, the regulations do not explain clearly how often the PAT testing needs to be conducted. However, many organizations agree that the regularity of testing should be based on the individual appliance and the workplace environment. In many cases, most appliances need an annual testing, but there are appliances that require a more frequent testing such as once every three or four months. For example, computers and coffee makers usually only need an annual testing, but hand drill usually requires a more frequent testing since it is used extensively.

The PAT testing results can also be used to determine testing frequency. For example, if faults are always found every time an appliance is tested, you may need to increase the testing frequency. However, if an appliance does not indicate any problems even after several tests, you may decrease the testing frequency.

In terms of cost for portable appliance testing, contractors usually charge per-appliance basis. Although the cost varies between contractors, the cost usually ranges from £1 to £2 per appliance. However, one thing for sure is that you can get a lower rate if your organization has a large number of appliances that need to be tested.

Once testing is completed, your PAT testing contractor will issue a certificate that shows the results of each tested appliance. Each tested appliance will be marked with a sticker to show whether the appliance passes or fails the testing.

There are many reputable contractors that offer PAT testing. It is highly recommended that you choose a trained and qualified contractor who uses the latest PAT equipments. Hiring a professional contractor is very important to make sure that the testing is completed efficiently without causing major disruption to the daily operations of your organization. Since the results of portable appliance testing are used as evidences that your organization adheres to all related regulations, make sure that your organization only uses service from a reputable contractor.

If you require portable appliance testing otherwise known as pat testing, you can contact Capital Pat Services for a competitive quote. They offer pat testingin london.