If you’re a landlord or estate agent, you MUST ensure appliances provided in your property are ‘safe’. The best way to check they are safe is by doing a PAT test.
But what even needs PAT Testing? Is there anything that doesn’t need PAT Testing? If I buy new equipment does that need PAT Testing?
If you need answers to any of these questions, don’t worry! We answer all these questions and more down below so keep on reading!
What Needs PAT Testing?
For the purpose of legislation, portable appliances include all equipment that is not part of a fixed installation but is meant to be connected to a fixed installation.
Any appliance that uses a flexible cable or plug and socket qualifies as a portable appliance. In other words, if you have an appliance that has a plug that is intended to be connected to a wall socket, it qualifies as needing to be PAT tested.
Some examples of portable appliances are as follows:
- Fridges
- Phone Charges
- Dishwashers, Washing Machines, Tumble Dryers etc.
- Freezers
- Lamps
- TV’s
- Kettles
- Toasters
Does Equipment That Isn’t Portable Need PAT Testing?
YES! We understand that the name, Portable Appliance Testing, makes this seem a little confusing. But we’ll explain!
This may come as a surprise, but fixed appliances also require PAT testing. These forms of electrical equipment might not have a plug but do still run off the mains. Examples include integrated or hard-wired equipment which is wired into the wall such as storage heaters or towel racks.
So, in summary – if a piece of electrical equipment is plugged into a power source and runs off mains electricity, it requires PAT testing. Whether it is a portable appliance or not, it doesn’t matter!
Is There Anything That Doesn’t Need PAT Testing?
Yes. If you have electrical equipment that runs off batteries rather than the mains (for example a wireless keyboard or mouse), you don’t need to test them.
Does New Equipment Need PAT Testing?
No! If you have bought your equipment from a reliable retailer, then it doesn’t need PAT testing straight away. The equipment SHOULD have been provided to you in a safe working condition, but you can’t always be certain.
If you are uncertain, just make sure to do a quick visual examination before you use it to check there are no major issues. It’s possible that it could have got damaged in transit or while it was being delivered therefore, you should ALWAYS do a check.
Things to check include:
- Is the cable split, damaged or twisted?
- Does the packaging look authentic, does it look used at all?
- Is the casing of the appliance cracked, warped, discoloured, scorched or burned?
- Does the plug easily fit into a socket?
- Can you hear, see or smell anything that is not normal when you plug it in? If the answer is yes, turn it off and unplug it straight away!
One rule to live by is: if you’re not 100% that the equipment is safe to use, then don’t use it.
Electricity is a major cause of accidental fires in UK homes – over 20,000 each year and nine out of 10 (89%) electrical fires are caused by electrical products.
If the appliance is purchased from a retailer, then you are entitled to a refund, repair or replacement under the Consumer Rights Act.
If all is okay, then you can get it added to your inventory ready for your next round of PAT testing.
How Do We PAT Test?
Find out more about PAT testing here if you are interested in how we perform PAT tests and what happens if we find a failure.
If a minor failure (such as a plug or fuse) is found, we will replace it immediately free of charge! All major failures will be highlighted immediately, and the reasons will be documented.
Once completed, the results are recorded onto a PAT certificate. At NSI, we pride ourselves on our 24-hour certificate turnaround! Find out more about PAT Testing here.
How much Does a PAT test Cost?
We offer PAT testing for residential properties from just £60.
As a landlord, you want to make sure your property is safe and has the necessary certification. We offer a SAFE Certified package, which combines three amazing services (including PAT Testing) in just one appointment, with savings of over £100 per property, to find out more click here.
If you would like to book an engineer for Portable Appliance Testing, please click the button below.