PAT Testing Frequency, How Often Should Appliances Be Tested

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Required by employers, landlords and the self-employed to ensure safety of their electrical equipment. The Health & Safety Executive provides no set rule on testing frequency, only that testing should be done regularly to ensure preventative maintenance.

Why is there no PAT Testing Frequency? the reason that there is no set frequency is because different situations arise that call for different measures. There are a number of factors that affect the testing frequency and it is up to the Duty Holder to determine when testing should be carried out. The Duty Holder should regularly complete Risk assessments to determine how often PAT is implemented.
In order to determine how often you should have your appliances tested, you should bear in mind a few different factors:
  

• Equipment that is used more should be tested more frequently, this is likely to suffer less damage than that used regularly.
• If people using equipment report any damages as they become noticeable, there is less chance of a major hazard. If equipment regularly receives damage or abuse that is not reported then inspections and testing are required more frequently.
• The type of risk from equipment/environment in question is a major factor in the determination of PAT Testing frequency, which can be helpful to risk assess.
• Hand held appliances are more likely to become damaged than those that are stationary and Class 1 appliances carry a greater risk of electrical shock/fire and should both be tested more frequently.
• Class and category, type of equipment.
• Manufacturer’s recommendations.
• The age of the equipment.
• Frequency of use.
• Foreseeable misuse of the equipment.
• Effects of any modifications or repairs.
• The history of the item.