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PAT Testing
- Thread starter Barry Stewart
- Start date
Steve Porter
Cleantalker Veteran
Hi Barry
You local Hire shop should be able to carry this out for you
HSS hire
Speedy
or a more local one
You local Hire shop should be able to carry this out for you
HSS hire
Speedy
or a more local one
Trevor Ives
Cleantalker Veteran
Shop round electrical contractors locally.
Beware of very different charges, some are over the top.
Trevor
Beware of very different charges, some are over the top.
Trevor
Ian Harman
Cleantalk Member
I was talking to somebody at a meeting the other day who implied that he had been advised by somebody who was a H&Safety expert that a sole trader could get by by a carrying out a visual inspection, checking connections etc and that was sufficient. Sounds unlikely to me but does anyone here know better?
John Bolton
Cleantalker Veteran
Portable Appliance Testing is a requirement made by several pieces of legislation, including the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. The scope of appliances covered is wide, not just your vacuum cleaner, portable extractor etc. but basically any thing connected to a mains plug - including an extension cable and 110 volt equipment.
Implications of ignoring this requirement can be serious. Not the least being the fact that you could find yourself uninsured.
You are entitled to carry out these tests yourself - a one-day City and Guilds course is available (£160 + VAT) and the equipment can be purchased for around £600. You may consider that this investment is worthwhile for the convenience of being able to test at a time that suits you and the cost, like the cost of having the tests carried out by some other qualified person, is tax deductible.
There is also the possibility of earning additional income by testing for others. However, I would suggest that in the event of an electrical accident occurring, due to a fault that develops between tests, then certification by an independent party is likely to have more credibility.
The Health and Safety Executive has recently updated its popular guide aimed at employers, employees and the self-employed who use, or have control over, portable or transportable electrical equipment.
'Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment', gives practical advice on how to maintain equipment in a safe condition and prevent accidents. It covers equipment that may be connected to either fixed mains or a locally generated supply, and that could result in an electric shock, burn or fire due to damage, wear or misuse.
First published in 1994, this second edition contains updated advice, with new sections on cables and the repair and replacement of equipment.
The guidance applies to a wide variety of equipment, used in all environments, from electric drills and extension leads, to floor cleaners, pressure water cleaners and electric kettles. It includes advice on what the legal requirements for maintenance of electrical equipment can mean in practice and guidance on how to carry out a risk assessment in this area.
The maintenance strategy recommended by the guide is based on a straightforward, inexpensive system of visual inspections that can be undertaken by an appointed employee. In addition, a person with appropriate skill and technical knowledge should test equipment periodically.
"Nearly a quarter of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable or transportable equipment," says Neil Gove, HSE Electrical Specialist Inspector.
"The vast majority of these accidents result in electric shock. If you use such equipment in your workplace, this guide can help you to maintain it in a safe condition and prevent such accidents from occurring."
The regulatory basis for "Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment" is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Regulation 4 (2) places duties on employers, the self-employed and employees to ensure that all systems are maintained so as to avoid danger.
Copies of 'Maintaining portable and transportable electric equipment - 2nd edition', ISBN 0 7176 2805 1, HSG107, cost £7.95.
Order online at http://www.hsebooks.co.uk
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
................................ I bought the booklet - it does not say much more that John wrote in his last post! :sad:
Implications of ignoring this requirement can be serious. Not the least being the fact that you could find yourself uninsured.
You are entitled to carry out these tests yourself - a one-day City and Guilds course is available (£160 + VAT) and the equipment can be purchased for around £600. You may consider that this investment is worthwhile for the convenience of being able to test at a time that suits you and the cost, like the cost of having the tests carried out by some other qualified person, is tax deductible.
There is also the possibility of earning additional income by testing for others. However, I would suggest that in the event of an electrical accident occurring, due to a fault that develops between tests, then certification by an independent party is likely to have more credibility.
The Health and Safety Executive has recently updated its popular guide aimed at employers, employees and the self-employed who use, or have control over, portable or transportable electrical equipment.
'Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment', gives practical advice on how to maintain equipment in a safe condition and prevent accidents. It covers equipment that may be connected to either fixed mains or a locally generated supply, and that could result in an electric shock, burn or fire due to damage, wear or misuse.
First published in 1994, this second edition contains updated advice, with new sections on cables and the repair and replacement of equipment.
The guidance applies to a wide variety of equipment, used in all environments, from electric drills and extension leads, to floor cleaners, pressure water cleaners and electric kettles. It includes advice on what the legal requirements for maintenance of electrical equipment can mean in practice and guidance on how to carry out a risk assessment in this area.
The maintenance strategy recommended by the guide is based on a straightforward, inexpensive system of visual inspections that can be undertaken by an appointed employee. In addition, a person with appropriate skill and technical knowledge should test equipment periodically.
"Nearly a quarter of all reportable electrical accidents involve portable or transportable equipment," says Neil Gove, HSE Electrical Specialist Inspector.
"The vast majority of these accidents result in electric shock. If you use such equipment in your workplace, this guide can help you to maintain it in a safe condition and prevent such accidents from occurring."
The regulatory basis for "Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment" is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Regulation 4 (2) places duties on employers, the self-employed and employees to ensure that all systems are maintained so as to avoid danger.
Copies of 'Maintaining portable and transportable electric equipment - 2nd edition', ISBN 0 7176 2805 1, HSG107, cost £7.95.
Order online at http://www.hsebooks.co.uk
Tel: 01787 881165
Fax: 01787 313995
................................ I bought the booklet - it does not say much more that John wrote in his last post! :sad:
Ian Harman
Cleantalk Member
Thanks John, that was the sort of answer I was expecting. I thought at the time that a pure visual inspection would not be sufficient.
Trevor Ives
Cleantalker Veteran
There are shedules for various types of 'test'.
They recommend weekly inspection of cables and plugs and exteriors of machines and pat testing at various intervals.
PAT testing checks the efficiency of the earth path and the insulation of the live components to earth. There is also a check on total earth leakage. This is IMO the important one. Vitually no used vac unit I have tested in the last 12 years has been zero milliampere leakage. There is a tolerance of around 3.5 mA and most units just scrape this. A good blowout with 120 psi compressed air will reduce a 'leaky' unit to within limits. Its the carbon which provides a path to earth from the windings.
The problems arise when madam has equipment running whgich each have a leak, then you come along with another 3-5 mA and takr the total over the limit for the house trip.
Older televisions were notorious for leaking, fridges and freezers do it when older and getting knackered.
They recommend weekly inspection of cables and plugs and exteriors of machines and pat testing at various intervals.
PAT testing checks the efficiency of the earth path and the insulation of the live components to earth. There is also a check on total earth leakage. This is IMO the important one. Vitually no used vac unit I have tested in the last 12 years has been zero milliampere leakage. There is a tolerance of around 3.5 mA and most units just scrape this. A good blowout with 120 psi compressed air will reduce a 'leaky' unit to within limits. Its the carbon which provides a path to earth from the windings.
The problems arise when madam has equipment running whgich each have a leak, then you come along with another 3-5 mA and takr the total over the limit for the house trip.
Older televisions were notorious for leaking, fridges and freezers do it when older and getting knackered.