PAT testing - suitably skilled

[gazdkw82]

All electrician's within my works have been carrying out PAT testing on numerous appliances and extension cables for a while now as directed by our supervisors.

Only a few lads have done the PAT testing course many years ago and we are unsure if you have to have taken the PAT course or is an electrician deemed competent enough to perform such inspections?

 

[ruston]

There is a C&G 2377 certificate for this , but it is not essential . All you need to know is in the code of practice available from the IET , or Amazon and the like.
A decent tester does all the work for you.
PS. Competence is required.

 

[R-fur]

I thinks all electricians can PAT test as long as the basic competence is there. My understanding is that PAT test machines were brought in so that semi-skilled guys could do the testing.

 

[Charlie_]

Pat testing is that a bit like tyre kicking?

 

[Pete999]

Pat testing is that a bit like tyre kicking?

More or less Charlie.

 

[telectrix]

it's even more boring than tyre kicking.

 

[Charlie_]

Yes actually I would rather kick something than just pay it

 

[DPG]

The course is worth doing, and so is obtaining the current code of practice. A big part of 'PAT testing' is inspection and logging of results.

Remember it's not called PAT testing as well. It's ISITEE. PAT is a misleading name, as it doesn't just apply to portable appliances, and it often doesn't involve testing.

And as above - its boring and very competitive in terms of price. OK as a side line.

 

[Charlie_]

ISITEE and sometime I standy

 

[ruston]

..cos its a trade secret -that I just blabbed..

The course is worth doing, and so is obtaining the current code of practice. A big part of 'PAT testing' is inspection and logging of results.

Remember it's not called PAT testing as well. It's ISITEE. PAT is a misleading name, as it doesn't just apply to portable appliances, and it often doesn't involve testing.

And as above - its boring and very competitive in terms of price. OK as a side line.

A decent tester will do this and update all the item records in the log helping you to retain the will to live.

 

[Deleted member 26818]

An Electrician should be competent enough, not to need to have their tools and equipment pat tested.
Saying that though, I often see testers just pull their jumble of leads out of a bag, plug them in and start testing, without even glancing at the leads to check they look ok.