How Often Does PAT Testing Need Doing?
How Often Does PAT Testing Need Doing is one of our most frequently asked questions. Here’s our handy guide to make sure you maintain the correct level of testing in your organisation.
The frequency of testing will require on the environment that your items are in. For example a Doctor’s surgery computer has a far different risk level to a power drill charger for example. The PC at the Doctor’s surgery will rarely, if ever get moved and become damaged in any way. A power drill charger is subject to being moved every day. Water & dust will also degrade the inside of the appliance too.
Their intended use of each item will have to be taken into consideration when deciding on the frequency of PAT testing. A lot of sites will have items that are low risk and high risk. So you cannot judge the risk at premises level, but on each individual item.
For example, in a manufacturing company – a three phase piece of machinery would be deemed as high risk. However the computer a member of staff uses in its office would be low risk. The machinery would need far more frequent testing than the computer.
Frequency of PAT Testing Guide
When our clients ask how often does PAT testing need doing we often suggest that a visual inspection in between formal PAT testing by a competent person would be adequate on higher risk items.
A visual inspection of appliances should be completed every year. This should be completed be a electrically competent person. A more formal inspection & testing should be completed at different intervals depending on the appliance in question. Here’s our handy PAT Testing frequency guide to help you.
Class 1 Appliance
A class 1 appliance is an appliance which has an earth. Should the appliance become damaged in a way where the user could touch an internal live component the current goes through the earth terminal of the plug rather than the user. These appliances tend to have a metal outer casing such as a toaster or a fridge where if a live part touched the outer body this would be a live component is the appliance wasn’t earthed properly.
Examples of Class 1 Appliances – Kettles, Toasters, Microwaves, Fridges, PCs, Monitors, Printers and Dishwashers.
Class 2 Appliance
The protection measures for a class 2 appliance is something that is called a “double insulated” appliance. These appliances have a second insulation within the body of the appliance and are usually, but not limited to, a plastic body. These items require a more frequent level of testing due to the fact there is no earth to protect the user. So of the appliance becomes damaged in a. way the double insulation exposes live parts – there is no further protection for the user.
Examples of Class 2 Appliances – Laptop Chargers, AC Adaptors, Fans, Network Switches, DVD Players, Power Tools, Drill Chargers.
Most of clients simply have all of their items testing & inspected every year to make sure they comply with their insurance policies despite Health & Safety at work regulations stating a less frequent testing regime.
PAT Testing Frequency by Environment
Offices, Shops and Hotels – Class 1 equipment including office and IT appliances should be tested every 2 years. Moveable equipment such as extension leads and portable equipment should be tested every 2 years. Handheld equipment should be tested annually.
Schools & Education – All Class 1 equipment in schools should be PAT tested annually. Class 2 equipment should be tested every 2 years.
Public Use Equipment – Office and IT equipment such as computers should be tested annually. Moveable, Portable and Handheld equipment falling into Class 2 should be tested annually. Moveable, Portable and Handheld equipment falling into Class 1 should be tested every 6 months.
Construction – All 110V equipment used on construction sites should be tested every 3 months. This is due to the harsher environment they are subjected to on a daily basis. They pose more of a risk and are more susceptible to damage. The most common form of damage to such item are damaged leads and bodies exposing internal electrical components.
Industrial – All industrial sites, including commercial kitchens should have Portable and Handheld equipment tested every 6 months. Office, IT and Moveable equipment should be tested annually.
Please see move on the HSE Gov website here
