Pat Testing
What does PAT testing actually do?
Portable appliance testing (PAT) is the term used to describe the examination of electrical appliances and equipment to ensure they are safe to use. Most electrical safety defects can be found by visual examination but some types of defect can only be found by testing.
How often should I have my electrical equipment PAT tested?
Whilst it is not a legal requirement for you to have your portable electrical equipment formally PAT tested, as a landlord or business owner, it is your legal responsibility to ensure that all electrical equipment is properly maintained in order to minimise the risk of danger for tenants and employees. It is therefore advised for you to incorporate regular PAT testing into the maintenance schedule for your portable electrical equipment.
How frequently should I have my electrical appliances PAT tested?
Whilst there are no formal guidelines for the regularity you should seek to have your electrical equipment PAT tested, there are a number of factors which should be taken into consideration when planning your testing schedule, including:
- The type of equipment being used (portable, handheld or transportable)
- The class of the equipment in use (Class I or Class II)
- The frequency of use (continuous, infrequent, etc.)
- How old the equipment is
- How often the equipment is moved around
- The professional competence of the people using the equipment
- The environment the equipment is used in (outdoors, construction sites, hazardous atmospheres, etc.)
- The result of previous PAT tests
- The guidelines and recommendations provided by the manufacturer
- Whether or not the equipment has ever been modified or repaired
Do I need to get PAT testing done for insurance purposes?
Your insurance company may require that you carry out PAT testing for your public liability and employer’s liability cover to be valid.
We’d recommend checking with your insurance provider to see what specific rules and regulations they have in place.
Do I need to get PAT testing if my employees are working from home?
As you may already know, the employer is responsible for an employee’s health, safety and well-being when they are in the office, in line with The Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).
If an employee is working from home and using the company’s equipment, this still applies.
(1) It shall be the duty of every employer to ensure, so far as is reasonably practicable, the health, safety and welfare at work of all his employees.
(2) Without prejudice to the generality of an employer’s duty under the preceding subsection, the matters to which that duty extends include in particular—
(d) so far as is reasonably practicable as regards any place of work under the employer’s control, the maintenance of it in a condition that is safe and without risks to health and the provision and maintenance of means of access to and egress from it that are safe and without such risks;
(e) the provision and maintenance of a working environment for his employees that is, so far as is reasonably practicable, safe, without risks to health, and adequate as regards facilities and arrangements for their welfare at work.
This means that you can still be liable if your staff injure themselves away from your office. While PAT testing isn’t mandatory, it can be the best way to keep staff working from home safe.
How often should PAT testing be done in a rental property?
In terms of PAT testing for landlords, we would suggest that it is carried out yearly or upon tenancy changeover.
As a landlord, it is your responsibility by law to provide electrical appliances that are safe to use at all times, and most landlords meet their legal requirements by PAT testing annually. Find out more about PAT testing here.
Is PAT Testing worth it?
Yes, it is worth it. It is the surest way to guarantee that you are compliant with your electrical safety obligations as a landlord, indemnify yourself against risk of penalties for non-compliance, and protect your tenants from potential hazards.
Portable Appliance Testing will confirm that your appliances are safe for your tenants to use, guaranteeing their safety and protecting you from any claims for damages as a result of unsafe electrical equipment.