PAT testing guide, how to get PAT testing Done Correctly

PAT Testing Tip #1

PAT Testing - Test Once A Year

Most items need testing once a year, it totally depends on the appliacation of your business, what equipment is being used and number of employees.

Do confirm with your health and safety advisors but on most cases it is a yearly requirement.

PAT Testing Tip #2

PAT Testing - Watch Out For Ridiculously Low Prices

If the price is too low then you can expect that the PAT test are not being carried out correctly and are being ripped off.

A reasonable price would be around 79p - £2.50 depending on the amount of items being tested. The more items you have the lower the price should become.

PAT Testing Tip #3

PAT Testing - Unsafe Microwave

Microwave require another test as well as your standard PAT test, this test is
to check if microwaves are leaking from your microwave which could
seriously harm someone in the short and long term.

The price for this test varies between £4.00 - £10.00 a microwave again
depending on the number of microwaves
you have.

PAT Testing Tip #4

PAT Testing - Equipment Which Could Hurt The Most

When having PAT Tests carried out confirm class 1 equipment is check
correctly. This is important because class 1 equipment are appliances which
you have indirect contact with which mean you are touching metal and
current could pass through it and then through you.

The test will confirm that the earth in the appliance is working correctly and
will operate if a fault occurs.

PAT Testing Tip #5

PAT TESTING - Your Contractor Using The Right Equipment?

Confirm the tester being used is a PAT tester but not some self made tester
which the contractor has made to save money.

This is important because self made testers which have not been approved do
not work correctly. They can tell the contractor something is safe when it isn’t
and tell them something is unsafe which is safe resulting in costing you
money because you would have to replace that appliance.

PAT Testing Tip #6

PAT Testing - Make Sure The Results Are Correct

Yearly calibration on Pat testing equipment is compulsory, this is because
they go out of calibration and give false readings.

Just like using false PAT testers this can also tell you something is safe when
it is really unsafe and could tell you something is unsafe when it is safe,
costing you more money.

PAT Testing Tip #7

PAT Testing - Make Sure The Testers Are Qualified

PAT tester also need to be trained correctly, there are lots of people out there
carrying out test how are not trained.
There is much more to PAT testing then just sticking a plug into a tester and
pressing a button to make sure it is safe.
More then 1 test is required for items and visual inspections are also required
to confirm the cable size is correct, the fuse in the plug is the correct size and
much more.

If the PAT Tester hasn’t been trained then he will more then likely not know
this.

Also if you have a group of PAT testers who are carrying tests out in your
building confirm at least one of them have a certificate and is supervising.
This is important as more and more companies are trying to cut cost to make
more money which results in incorrect testing and lives being put to risk.

We hope this information has been helpful, if you have any questions regarding your installation please feel free to email us on info@vedhas.co.uk .

If you would like any work carried out please feel free to call us now on 0800 046 1241.