ABEL Technical Services

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing) is an important part of the Health and Safety practices of any commercial, industrial, educational or rental-based business and anywhere with public access.

As electrical items are used day to day there is the increasing risk that they can become damaged or that a fault will occur, which can lead to the obvious dangers of electric shock or fire. Regular testing will help to avoid this scenario.

Legally, too, there exists a responsibility. Principally, The Health & Safety at Work Act (1974), The Electricity at Work Regulations (1989) and The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (1998) all require that electrical equipment is maintained in safe working order. PAT testing and associated record keeping helps ensure compliance with these regulations. Failure to comply may constitute a criminal offence resulting in fines or, in the most serious cases, prison. Additionally, should an incident occur, insurance companies may use a lack of testing records as a reason to reduce or dismiss a claim.

What is involved?

There are two parts to the PAT testing of a piece of equipment, the formal visual inspection and the electrical safety test.

Formal Visual Inspection

This is the first step in testing and will often pick up the majority of faults and problems. These inspections must only be carried out by persons competent to do so and the results of the inspection must be documented. Areas looked at include:

Appliance

• Any damage to casing or loose wires?
• Is the equipment working?
• Can it be switched on and off?
• Is the means of disconnection\isolation accessible?

Power Cable

• Is the cable in good condition?
• Are there any signs of temporary repairs?
• Are the cable ends secure?

Plug

• Are the cable terminations secure and correct (for non-moulded plugs)?
• Is the plug cover secure (for non-moulded plugs)?
• Is the correctly rated fuse installed?
• Are there any internal or external signs of damage?

General

• Is the equipment suitable for the environment or the nature of the work being undertaken?

Assuming that the device passes these initial visual checks then the next stage is the electrical safety check.

Electrical Safety

These tests are done using a dedicated Portable Appliance Tester. ABEL Technical Services use the state-of-the-art Seaward SuperNova Plus.

Earth Bond Test

Applies a test current down the earth pin of the plug to an earth probe connected to any exposed metalwork on the casing of the appliance. This checks the integrity of the earth path should a fault occur.

Insulation Resistance Test

Applies a test voltage between the live and neutral bonded together and earth, from which the insulation resistance can be calculated. Note: this test is not typically carried out on IT equipment.

Flash Test

Tests appliance insulation, specifically for damaged\repaired devices, but is rarely used as a routine test.

Load Test

Starts the appliance as if it were being used normally and measures the power being consumed. This is compared to the manufacturers rating plate attached to the appliance.

Earth Leakage Test

Current flowing into the equipment is compared to current flowing out, with any difference measured as earth leakage. This test is used in preference to the Insulation Test with IT equipment.

Please check our 'Why is PAT Important' information to see why the PAT Testing process is relevant to you.