| If you run a business or let property you are | | | | anything less than five to ten minutes per piece |
| required by UK law to have any portable electrical | | | | of equipment is too short. So you should have a |
| devices tested for health and safety reasons. All | | | | rough idea of how long it should take to carry out |
| those PC, laptops, phones, tills photocopier, | | | | the tests and if a company quotes you |
| printers and even kettles and toasters need to be | | | | significantly less time then this then the alarm bells |
| tested to ensure that you are not putting your | | | | should start ringing. The company should also be |
| tenants or employees at risk. | | | | able to provide you with a database of all the |
| So you know that your equipment has to be PAT | | | | test results in both a paper format and an |
| tested and you need to find a company to carry | | | | electronic one. If they are unable to provide this |
| out the work. Where do you start? Well run a | | | | for you then you should question if they are |
| small business and have experience of dealing with | | | | actually carrying out the tests. |
| a number of PAT testing companies down the | | | | Do they use the latest equipment and is it |
| years. I have listed six question that I believe you | | | | calibrated? |
| should ask any company that you ask to quote | | | | PAT testing equipment is always being improved |
| for the work. Any good PAT testing company will | | | | and you should ask the company how old their |
| be able to provide you with the answers to these | | | | equipment is. The equipment should also be |
| questions. | | | | calibrated to ensure that it is giving the correct |
| Is the Company Accredited? | | | | readings. All calibrated equipment should have a |
| You should ask any prospective PAT testing | | | | certificate to prove when it was last tested for |
| company if they have professional accreditation. | | | | and also when it is due to be retested. |
| Although there is no PAT testing official body | | | | Are they insured? |
| there are a number of professional associations | | | | You should check that the company has public |
| that all companies should belong too. These | | | | liability insurance. The the work they carry out on |
| include, National Inspection Council for Electrical | | | | your equipment is vital and is also legally binding. If |
| Installation Contracting (NICEIC), SAFEcontractor | | | | there is an issue caused by equipment they have |
| and the Electrical Safety Council. If the company | | | | tested and passed then the legal blame and any |
| claims to be a member of these associations it is | | | | expense would be the responsibility of the PAT |
| always worth checking that their membership is | | | | testing company. If they do not have insurance |
| up to date. | | | | then you have no redress and may not be able |
| Are the engineers qualified? | | | | to recover any costs that have been incurred as |
| PAT testing should be carried out by qualified | | | | a result of the fault. |
| engineers. It is important that you check that any | | | | Are there any hidden charges? |
| engineers that are sent to your premises have | | | | It is always worth checking and then double |
| pasted the City & Guilds 2360 Part 1 & | | | | checking what is included in the price of the quote. |
| Part 2 and City & Guilds 2391, the recognized | | | | Does it include the cost of the labels, database |
| industry standards for Fixed Installation Testing. | | | | burnt to CD and a print out of the test results? |
| Any company that is employing unqualified | | | | Is the work charged per piece of equipment, per |
| engineers could be compromising the safety of | | | | hour or for the whole premises in one go? |
| you and your staff. | | | | Will there be any charges for the changing of |
| Do they do a full PAT test or are they just | | | | fuses in plugs? Make sure than you get a fully |
| sticking labels without properly testing? | | | | costed quote in writing before you engage in a |
| You need to ensure that the company is actually | | | | project. |
| carrying out a full PAT tests on your equipment | | | | If you ask these questions then hopefully you |
| and not just sticking labels on equipment without | | | | should be able to have a pain free PAT test and |
| carrying out the tests. | | | | look forward to a fruitful relationship with your |
| The test should involve a number of steps and | | | | PAT testing company. |