Ask anyone about PAT testing, which focuses on portable appliances, and fixed wire testing, which examines the electrical installation itself, and the chances are that they will at least have heard of the terms. Mention Fixed Appliance Testing, however, and it’s more likely that they’ll shrug their shoulders.
Fixed appliances are the ones from which the plug has been removed so that they can be hard-wired into the main electrical circuit, usually via a fused spur unit. Examples of these fixed appliances include cookers, fridges and washing machines, and they need to be tested in the same way as any portable appliance.
PAT testing should be carried out annually and fixed wire tests should take place every five to ten years depending on your property type, and while fixed appliances appear to fall between the two, it’s recommended that they’re tested annually alongside their portable equivalents.
There’s a danger that fixed wire appliances can sometimes be overlooked, given that some PAT testers aren’t qualified to work on the main circuit while some electricians don’t test them because they don’t technically form part of the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).
Back in 2012 the official guidance was updated to include fixed appliances in the In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISITEE) requirements, to ensure they were indeed always checked. And at MS Electrical we make a point of including the fixed appliances, when requested by our clients, in our testing roster because we’re qualified to isolate the appliance so we can fully test it and then carry out the PAT testing. As well as carrying out these tests, we’ll also do a visual inspection to check for any tell-tale wear and tear, which might lead to a recommendation to replace the appliance.
As Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical Services, points out, electrical safety testing is a specialist area and should only be carried out by a competent professional. ‘Over the years we’ve encountered lots of potentially dangerous situations when undertaking PAT testing and fixed wire testing in Cambridge,’ says Mark. ‘And the thought that some electricians may not even have tested the fixed appliances is a real concern. We’d encourage any business or landlord worried about the quality and thoroughness of their electrical safety testing to contact us to request a quotation.’
MS Electrical offers PAT testing and fixed wire testing in Cambridge. Please contact us for advice or to request a no-obligation quotation.