Hampshire electricians, A1 Elec-Tricks Ltd are based in Southampton but offer their professional electrical services throughout the surrounding Hampshire area.

We at A1 Elec-tricks ensure that all of our services and appliances are fitted to PAT standards and are thoroughly checked, providing you with safe, reliable equipment.

About PAT

Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT, is a major element in a company’s health and safety policy.

It includes:

Electrical appliances that are held while still being directly connected to a power supply,
Any electrical appliances intended to be moved or shifted when they are still connected to a power supply,
Any equipment and appliances that can be moved with ease while they are still connected to a power supply.

It can be common for PAT tested electrical equipment to still be directly connected to the power supply through a plug socket, although it is not a strict limitation of it being classed as either portable or transportable.

The IEE Code of Practice tells us it also includes an electrical appliance or equipment that weighs less than 18kg that can be moved in operation or is easily movable in general. This, in turn, can be read to mean that anything with a plug is classed as a Portable Appliance, and is subject to a PAT test. This would include electrical appliances including the likes of toasters, drills, printers and vacuum cleaners to name a few.

PAT and Health & Safety

The Health & Safety at Work Act that was created in 1974, states that the guides for portable electrical appliance testing should be:

• Where ever any electrical appliances are to be used by employees,
• Whether any members of the public may use the appliances in public establishments (hotels, hospitals, schools, shops etc),
• Whether the appliance or appliances are supplied or hired,
• If the appliance or appliances are repaired or serviced.

If an electrical appliance isn't tested to the standards of the PAT, it is regarded as unsafe.

The initial inspection of an electrical appliance generally includes the examination of the plug top, the cable and also the casing of the appliance. The plug top itself is inspected in order to ensure that it has the correct sized fuse, the proper cord grip, the best balanced polarity, and maximum terminations tightness. It shouldn't have any cracking or heat damage, but it will have a plug with insulating pins conforming to current BS standards.

The casing of the appliance is thoroughly examined for any visible damage or cracking. The radius of any holes or vents that are visible on the casing of the appliance must not exceed 6mm overall, and no live parts must be apparent within 80mm of the aperture.

The Health & Safety Executive doesn't state any limited or set frequency for the testing and inspection of portable appliances. Although how often an appliance requires testing heavily relies on several factors as well as general common sense:

The environment in which the appliance will be used. Is it vulnerable to physical contact and wearing?

If damage to the appliance is reported the moment that it occurs, or will the appliance be in overall better condition if it is amended in order to make it safer? Has it been in poor but is in generally working condition, and has not been inspected for some time?

The structure of the appliance. Are any specifically vital parts for that electrical equipment damaged?

The type of equipment. Is it a hand held or a fixed appliance? (hand-held appliances are generally more at risk).

If you require any services regarding the inspection of your electrical equipment, please don't hesitate to contact us.