Q. Is PAT Testing the law?
A. YES! electrical regulations currently in force in the UK put a responsibility of "due care" on the duty holder ie. Employer, landlord etc to ensure that their electrical appliances are safe. PAT testing is an effective way to ensure that you comply with those regulations.
Q. What equipment is covered?
A. Generally speaking, all equipment fitted with a standard BS1363 plug is covered. This includes PCs, kettles, irons, televisions, toasters, microwaves, power tools, washing machines, vacuum cleaners etc. More specifically, The National Association of Professional Inspectors and Testers (napit) define a portable appliance as 'any electrical item which can or is intended, to be moved whilst connected to an electrical supply.'
Q. Do I really need all those stickers plastered all over my lovely new equipment?
A. Yes All equipment needs to be labelled to ensure it can be uniquely identified in the test results. However, at Southern Electests we only use the highest quality, discreet labels, applied to the mains cable wherever possible, plus we remove your old labels wherever possible!
Q. Does my equipment need to be switched off for the test?
A. 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. Southern Electests 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.
Q. How long will testing take?
A. This depends on the type of equipment and the layout of your site amongst other factors. Around 20 tests per hour is the average.
Q. Could the test damage my equipment?
A. Potentially, Yes! Modern test equipment is capable of testing at high currents and voltages. Applying the wrong test to your equipment could cause irreparable damage. That is why all Southern Electests engineers are fully qualified to the relevant City & Guilds standards and are covered by £10 million public liability insurance.
Q. What hidden extras could I be charged for?
A. Our per-test pricing includes almost everything needed for typical appliance testing. This includes test reports, labels, replacement plugs, fuses etc. Additionally, our engineers carry a number of spare leads, extension cables etc. meaning that should a similar item be beyond repair, we can replace them at your discretion and at reasonable cost, saving you downtime and inconvenient trips to the hardware store!
Q. What will I receive after the testing?
A. Firstly, piece of mind!
Secondly, All test results will be recorded and delivered to you.
