How often does PAT testing need doing?

What the law says

No law says portable appliances must be tested every year. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems and equipment to be maintained so far as reasonably practicable to prevent danger. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 add a duty to keep work equipment in efficient working order and good repair.

Portable appliance testing, or PAT testing, is simply a well established way of showing you are meeting those duties. The right frequency depends on the type of equipment, how it is used and the environment it is used in.

The IET Code of Practice

Most electricians and businesses use the IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment as a guide. It suggests initial frequencies for user checks, formal visual inspections and combined inspection and testing, based on the environment and the class of equipment.

Two factors make the biggest difference. Harsh environments such as construction sites need far more frequent checks than offices. Hand-held Class I equipment, which relies on an earth connection for safety, is generally checked more often than double insulated Class II equipment, which is marked with a square within a square symbol.

Typical starting points

These are typical starting points for combined inspection and testing, based on common practice. They are not fixed rules, and your own risk assessment should decide the final schedule.

• Construction sites: often every three months for 110V portable tools, with more frequent formal visual inspections
• Industrial units, workshops and commercial kitchens: commonly every six to twelve months
• Equipment used by the public, such as in hotels or leisure venues: often every six to twelve months
• Offices and shops, Class I hand-held equipment: often around every twelve months
• Offices and shops, Class II and stationary IT equipment: often every two to four years
• Any equipment that has been damaged, repaired or is giving concern: test before it goes back into use

Formal visual inspections matter most

Most faults on portable equipment can be found just by looking. Damaged flexes, cracked plugs, scorch marks, loose cable grips and signs of overheating account for a large share of the problems found during testing.

That is why the Code of Practice puts weight on user checks before use and formal visual inspections between tests. A quick, recorded visual check at shorter intervals often does more for safety than a test every year with nothing in between.

Landlords and rented property

For most private landlords in England, PAT testing of appliances you provide is not a specific legal requirement. You do still have a duty to make sure any appliances you supply are safe, and periodic testing is a sensible way to show that, particularly at the start of a new tenancy.

Houses in multiple occupation are different. Many HMO licences include a condition requiring landlord supplied electrical appliances to be tested, often annually, so check your licence wording.

Setting your own schedule

Start with the typical intervals for your type of premises, then adjust based on what testing finds. If equipment repeatedly passes with no defects, the interval can often be extended. If failures are common, shorten it. Keep a register of every item, its test date and result, so you can show your reasoning to an insurer or inspector.

Common questions

This guide is general information for properties in England and is not a substitute for an inspection by a qualified electrician.