As a specialist electrical safety company we spend a large proportion of our working lives carrying out portable appliance (or PAT) testing. PAT testing is the in-service inspection and testing of any electrical appliance or equipment, in order to ensure its ongoing safety for use.
Typical appliances include computers, laptops, printers, broadband routers, lamps, kettles and toasters, all of which need to be fully tested to keep your staff, customers and anyone else visiting your premises safe. Our testing service comprises a function test, an insulation resistance test, earth leakage tests and, where applicable, an earth continuity test. We also undertake a thorough visual inspection of the appliance itself to look for signs of wear and tear.
To remain compliant, PAT testing should be completed annually, with a full report being provided on completion. Aside from ensuring the ongoing safety of anyone entering your premises and reducing the risk of an electrical fire, one additional benefit of regular PAT testing is that it enables you to keep an up-to-date asset register. Especially in larger offices, factories and warehouses, it can be easy to lose track of how many appliances are on site and where they’re located. An annual PAT test will help you identify which appliances are where, and also whether any need to be disposed of or replaced.
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, confirms, it might not be the driving factor behind commissioning a PAT test, but maintaining an accurate asset register can be invaluable. ‘In general, our clients commission us because they know they have a responsibility to everyone who uses their premises to make sure that they can do so safely,’ comments Mark. ‘Not only that, they realise that it’s easy to become focused on the day-to-day running of the business and to lose sight of the condition and usability of the appliances they have at their disposal. Often, however, it’s only when we present our report that they understand that we have effectively created an accurate asset register for them to refer to throughout the year.
‘This, of course, is especially useful for landlords and letting agents, who are coming under increased scrutiny as to their electrical safety testing. Tenant changeovers can sometimes take place at short notice, so our PAT test report gives them access to a handy reference guide as to all the appliances they’re responsible for within the property.’
At MS Electrical we offer PAT testing in Cambridge. Should your PAT testing renewal date be approaching, please contact us for advice or to request a no-obligation quotation.