Taunton PAT Testing
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Frequently asked questions about PAT testing
There are many frequently asked questions about PAT Testing, the most common are below:
Why is it called PAT Testing?
The process of checking appliances is normally called ‘Portable Appliance Testing’ and is abbreviated to ‘PAT Testing’.
As you can probably see, this is actually incorrect – you are actually saying ‘Portable Appliance Testing testing!
If we used the phrase ‘PA testing’ then this would get confused with those who test ‘Public Address (PA) systems such as microphones, speakers and amplifiers.
Therefore, most people in the industry use the phrase PAT Testing as this is common use.
Is PAT Testing a legal requirement?
The legal requirement for maintenance is designed to ensure that equipment remains safe and is given the various pieces of legislation, the 3 most important of which are as follows:
- The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
- The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998
- The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
You will note that there is no specific legislative requirement to carry out inspection and testing nor there is no reference to any prescribed frequency or test methods.
How are the tests carried out?
The exact procedure for inspection and testing will vary considerably but can broadly be divided into 3 categories:
- User Checks – often referred to as an ‘external examination’ which is carried out by those who use the equipment.
- Formal Visual Inspections – which consist of a scheduled, detailed inspection, the results of which are recorded.
- Combined Inspection & Test – where the appliance is subjected to the electrical test with results once again being recorded.
How often should I PAT Test my equipment?
It is often assumed that annual inspection and testing should take place, but this is not the case as it is not a legal requirement.
Furthermore, this may not be the most appropriate in many cases and is acceptable for the duty holder to specify different test frequencies, depending on the type of equipment, the situation it is used in and the skill set of those persons using it.
What is the cost of PAT Testing my equipment?
Prices can vary depending on which company you use or how many items are being tested but as a general rule of thumb Taunton PAT Testing rates are fairly straight forward.
There is an initial call out fee of £39.95 and then each individual item will cost £1.00.
We are not VAT registered and your certificates will be issued upon receipt of payment.
