When we undertake PAT testing for a client, the outcome isn’t only the peace of mind that all their appliances are either compliant, in need of repair or in need of throwing away and replacing. The outcome is also that we present the client with a certificate of completion.
The PAT testing certificate – which is also occasionally referred to as an 'electrical certificate of compliance' – is formed of two parts. Part one is a certificate confirming that the equipment we’ve tested is safe to use, the address where the testing took place and the renewal date (usually in 12 months’ time). The certificate also contains all our details.
Part two, meanwhile, is a detailed report of every appliance we’ve tested during that visit, where it’s located and the result of that individual test. As such, this can serve as a useful checklist and inventory of all the appliances on-site, and this is especially useful for organisations with large sites and/or multiple locations. For ease of reference, each appliance is also given a reference number.
As well as issuing the certificate we can also, if required, talk the client through why any appliances that have failed were non-compliant, and this can be helpful to educate clients and their employees as to the correct usage for the equipment.
The certificate will usually be valid for 12 months and we recommend that our clients adhere to that timeframe. In fact, we always contact our clients in advance of the renewal date to ask if we can book the next test in. It’s a legal requirement to ensure that the electrical equipment used on your premises is both safe to use and maintained to a high standard and an annual PAT test helps to comply with that.
Officially, the PAT testing certificate confirms that your organisation complies with two key regulations: the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989). You may need to provide a copy of your PAT testing certificate to your insurance company when you renew your Public Liability Insurance. If you tender for projects, the certificate can help to prove that you take electrical safety seriously and that you’re fully committed to Health & Safety. If you’re a landlord, you can provide additional reassurance to your tenants that any appliances within your rented property – such as the microwave, the cooker or the fridge – are safe to use.
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, observes, an annual PAT test is essential for organisations to demonstrate their commitment to electrical safety. ‘It sounds obvious, but any business owner is going to want to ensure that their staff, visitors and suppliers can use their premises safely,’ says Mark. ‘That’s why we’re keen to help as many organisations in and around Cambridge to achieve compliance. In the day-to-day running of a business it can be easy to lose sight of issues such as PAT testing, which is why we’re always in touch around renewal date to remind our clients to book us in. Electrical safety is just that; it’s about testing installations and appliances to make sure that they’re all fit for purpose and to remedy any issues that arise, thus avoiding the worst possible scenario.’
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.