PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) involves conducting a series of electronic tests and a thorough visual inspection to all portable electronic equipment within a workplace or building. The desired outcome is to ascertain whether or not the appliance is suitable and safe for use. In order to test each piece of equipment properly, it must first be disconnected from the supply socket and inspected visually by a competent Engineer/Operative.
The Engineer checks for signs of damage to the appliance and its supply cord (IEC Lead) and then tests the functionality of any switches before checking that the fuse within the plug top is correctly rated for the safe disconnection of the appliance. After this process, the appliance is energised by a test machine which uses a sequence of checks to establish the integrity of the live, neutral and earth wires. The machine, depending on its findings, will establish a “pass” or “fail” status for the appliance, and the Engineer will label the equipment accordingly.
The legislation and guidance governing PAT is quite clear in most cases about how to protect your people and property and why, however PHS Compliance does not assume, as others do, that everybody has read the Electricity at Work Act 1989 or the British Standard that governs electrical safety. The fact is that common sense tells us that electricity is dangerous and any equipment using or producing it should be well maintained, PHS Compliance negate the need for our customers to worry about the legislative requirements by managing their electrical safety requirements on their behalf.
