Check your equipment

The PAT test is an important verification tool. The whole process is known as "in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment". This routine check of all electrical appliances ensures that all your electrical equipment meets the strictest safety requirements. It is a common myth that PAT testing is a legal requirement. The Regulations do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently (ie they don't make inspection or testing of electrical appliances a legal requirement, nor do they make it a legal requirement to undertake this annually), however your responsibility lies on ensuring the continued safety of your electrical appliances and carrying out regular PAT testing does exactly this. For more information you can read the HSE guide on Portable Appliance Testing.

PAT testing includes:

• visual inspections
• earth-bond tests
• insulation-resistance tests
• flash testing
• load tests
• earth-leakage test
• functional checks