Portable Appliance Testing
In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment – 5th Edition
Portable appliance testing (PAT Testing) or its other name, In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment is an essential part of any maintenance programme.
City & Guilds 2377-77 Qualified Engineers
In 2020 the City & Guilds 2377-77 qualification replaced older outdated qualifications with one simple unified qualification. The 2377-77 includes both a theory and practical elements. The two C&G 2377-22 and the 2377-32 were replaced by the new qualification which is similar in scope to the two older qualifications it has superseded but City & Guilds have updated the content so that it now covers testing of all electrical equipment. All our engineers are 2377-77 qualified, meeting the stringent pass grade required for the newly introduced industry qualification.
The Electricity at Work Regulations (EAWR-1989) requires that:
“As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger”.
The benefits of PAT testing
PAT testing is proven to be the best way to safeguard your business, employees & visitors safety within your premises. A regular preventative maintenance program also ensures that all reasonable steps have been taken to comply with current health & safety legislation.
Furthermore, it can also prove you have not been negligent in cases where claims arise against your business or where you need to claim for insurance in cases of loss or damage.
The dangers of electricity
An electric shock can kill or seriously injure and this is one of the hazards that electrical safety legislation is intended to protect against.
The legal duty is to ensure that if danger would result, electrical equipment must be maintained to prevent such danger. Inspection and testing are the means of determining whether maintenance is required and your risk based assessment should include the following to determine the frequency of testing:
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The environment
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The users
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The equipment construction
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The equipment type
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The frequency of use
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The type of installation methods
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Previous records
Are your electrical appliances safe?
An electrical accident is 12 times more likely to be fatal than other types of accident.
We test all types of appliances
Our engineers are trained to test all types of appliances from domestic 230v appliances and sensitive IT equipment, 110v tools, to 16 & 32 Amp commercial equipment. You will receive a full report detailing the locations and types of appliances tested providing you with an asset register and certificate.
Counterfeit Goods
In addition to the City & Guilds 2377-22 qualification our engineers are experienced in identifying potentially dangerous counterfeit electrical items.
Counterfeiting of electrical items has grown by 10,000% in the last 20 years
As a result, 1 in 3 UK residents have mistakenly purchased a counterfeit product online and 1 in 7 have suffered damage or loss as a result of fake electrical goods, the results can be deadly.
Counterfeit and sub-standard goods undermine legitimate manufacturers and retailers whilst increasing the risks of fire or electric shock due to substandard manufacturing and quality.
Explosions and fires caused by lithium-ion batteries have resulted in billions of pounds worth of damage and even deaths.
