Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) Explained
The Electricity at Work Act 1989 states that employers and landlords have a duty of care to ensure the safe working of electrical appliances under their control. Not only is this important for personal safety but it is possible that insurance companies may refuse a claim for any damage caused by an untested appliance.
Testing of these appliances - such as kettles, vacuum cleaners, hairdryers, extension leads, IT equipment - should be carried out by a competent person and consist of two procedures. The first is a visual inspection to determine the overall condition of the item (e.g. no evidence of overheating), the condition of the flex and plug and whether it is correctly fused. The second consists of a series of electrical tests that determine the adequacy of earth continuity, insulation resistance, correct polarity and earth leakage.
Depending on the type of premises portable appliances should be tested, and their condition recorded, every one or two years.