FAQ's

Some of the most frequently asked questions are answered here.

Expand All Collapse All Portable Appliance Testing FAQ's What is Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing)? Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is an important part of your Company’s or Organisation’s responsibility towards Health & Safety. It is carried out by doing a series of specialised test procedures on your portable electrical appliances to ensure they are working correctly and safely. What is a "Portable Appliance"? From a legal perspective a portable appliance is defined as an item that is not part of a fixed installation but is connected to such an installation by way of a flexible lead, plug and socket. This therefore means that any items such as electric drills, kettles, fridges, microwaves, PCs, printers, monitors, extension leads etc will all come under the portable appliance heading. Larger items such as photo copiers, fax machines, scanners etc will also be classified as portable appliances. Why do you say PAT testing and not PA Testing? Portable Appliance Testing is abbreviated to 'PAT'. The phrase 'PAT Testing' is in fact a contradiction. However, the phrase is commonly used in the industry even though most people realise it is incorrect. Some people insist on calling the process PA Testing which causes even more confusion. The correct term for the whole process is actually 'In-Service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment'. How often do my appliances need to be PAT tested? The frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment, and also the environment in which it is used. The frequencies we recommend are based on the guidelines by The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) Is Portable Appliance Testing a legal requirement? No, however, it is a statutory requirement and many insurance companies require the insured to comply with all current regulations. This includes the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which state "As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger" (Regulation 4(2)). "Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy." (Regulation 2(1)). The responsibility on the employer to ensure work equipment is safe is also covered by The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998. This states "Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for the purpose for which it is used or provided." (Regulation 4(1)). This includes all work equipment (fixed, portable or transportable) connected to a source of electrical energy." How much will it cost? Our pricing is based on a cost per appliance basis, and we have no set price list as every customer may have different requirements. To discuss your requirements in more detail please contact us. How long will the testing take? This is all dependent on access and availability of items. Will the testing be disruptive? During Portable Appliance Testing we try to minimise any disruption by only disconnecting items as we test them. We can also work outside of business hours or at weekends if this is required at no extra charge. Are there any additional costs? No. Minor repairs such as fitting a new plug, changing a damaged/incorrectly rated fuse, or rewiring a plug are all free as part of our service. Does my equipment need to be switched off for the test? Yes. It is impossible to carry out a PAT test with the unit switched on. The test invariably involves a thorough inspection of the mains plug and fuse, which is impossible to do without switching the unit off. SS Testing Ltd offer out of hours testing at no extra cost. This is an ideal solution for your servers and similar IT equipment which need to stay on during office hours. What happens if an item fails? Most failures are easily dealt with and our engineers will advise you of the best course of action on the day of the inspection OR in the final report issued to you on completion of the job. What areas do you cover? SS Testing Ltd Carry out PAT Testing Throughout England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland. Any further questions? Please refer to our links page, or alternatively you can contact us from the link above. Emergency Lighting Testing And Maintainance FAQ's What is Emergency Lighting? Emergency lighting is a Life Safety System and is required to assist the occupants in the event of an emergency. It will assist in the evacuation of premises in the event of power failure. Do I need emergency lighting? Yes, Emergency lighting is required in all premises where people are employed. It is also a mandatory requirement to be installed where artificial lighting is installed. Whose responsibility is it to ensure Emergency Lighting is installed and maintained? All Employers, Landlords or Occupiers have a duty under the “Fire Precaution (Workplace) Regulations 1999” to carry out a risk assessment to ensure their premises and activities are able to facilitate safe escape in the event of an emergency. How often should Emergency Lighting be tested? Daily – Monthly - Six-Monthly - Three Yearly and a Subsequent Annual Test. All check frequencies have specific requirements. Checks should be recorded where necessary in the Emergency Lighting Log Book. Who should carry out the testing? All Emergency Light Testing should be carried out by a competent person who has the sufficient knowledge of BS 5266.