@RTC, Aldershot - Portable appliance testing

Portable appliance testing training

Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is the inspection and testing of electrical appliances found on/in:

- construction sites

- industrial and commercial kitchens

- equipment used by the Public

- equipment used in schools

- equipment used in hotels

- equipment found in offices and shops

- equipment found in military establishments.

The 1989 Electricity at Work Regulations requires that: ‘As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger.’ So, there is no specific legal requirement to inspect or test electrical appliances, and inspection and testing alone will not necessarily result in compliance with the law. The requirement is to maintain electrical equipment to prevent danger. The aim is to ensure that electrical appliances are maintained in a safe condition.

While the term ‘portable appliance’ is not specifically defined in the Regulations, such equipment would certainly fall within its remit.

The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers defines a portable appliance as ‘any electrical item which can, or is intended to be moved whilst connected to an electrical supply’.

Careers in PAT

In military organisations, PAT forms part of the establishment’s health and safety strategy, and is undertaken by Service technical staff or contracted out to facility management organisations.

Electrical contractors may wish to include PAT in a portfolio of services, with some larger contractors having a dedicated team of electricians who travel around the country carrying out testing. This can help to grow a business, and offer steady employment with good rewards for the right person.

Portable appliance testers are now available for a price. They can store the record of results and these can be downloaded using a dedicated computer program. Results may then be printed and stored for longer-term retention.

Opportunities and qualifications

Electrical contractors may be approached during routine work to carry out PAT for clients such as hospitals, schools, factories or tool hire companies. The person carrying out the work should, of course, have the necessary electrical experience and knowledge, but might also possess the following City & Guilds qualifications:

- 2380/2381 – 16th Edition IEE Wiring Regulations

- 2391 – Inspection and Testing

- 2377–001 – Management of Electrical Equipment Maintenance

- 2377–002 – Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

The last qualification requires candidates to show that they can inspect and test items of class equipment, and correctly complete the equipment register, and its visual and combined inspection test record, before taking the exam. Training is needed so that the inspector can identify the equipments’ classification, types of test to be applied and their frequency. Inspectors must also make judgements on the results, including risk assessment.

Legal requirements

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations, if an accident causes electric shock, it is reportable under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 and may result in prosecution of the manager of the organisation. It will help therefore to be able to show through a schedule of test results that the equipment in question had been maintained in a safe working condition. Failure to show that portable appliances have been properly inspected and tested will normally indicate negligence.

The Electricity at Work Regulations also state that ‘No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger, or where appropriate, injury unless he/she possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work.’ So, people carrying out PAT may require information from expert sources including:

- Health & Safety Executive guidance notes and other publications

- manufacturer’s instruction manual

- appropriate British standards

- employers’ safety policy documents

- other relevant safety standards.

In addition, they should possess the following skills, knowledge and experience:

- relevant experience of electrical work

- specific experience of portable appliance testing

- experience of using portable appliance testers

- knowledge of possible hazards and how to avoid them

- ability to recognise when it is safe for work to continue

- experience of the type of equipment being tested

- adequate knowledge of hazards related to the site

- ability to interpret test results

- experience of assessing the frequency of future tests

- adequate supervision or training.

The PAT course

The PAT course lasts for three days and students should have completed City & Guilds 2380, 16th Edition Wiring Regulations, and 2391, Inspection and Testing of Electrical Installations.

Students will undertake the national exams on the Tuesday and Wednesday evenings and, if successful, will achieve CGLI 2377–01, Management of Electrical Equipment Maintenance, and CGLI 2377–02, Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

For further information call 01252 348519 or Aldershot Military 3519