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tdunbar
Was carrying out a review on my insurance cover very recently and something come to mind in relation to cover for In Service Inspectionand Testing of Electrical Equipment (that thing we all refer to as PAT testing).
From my research it would seem that all the relevant parties – employers, testers and insurance companies, still call this PAT testing despite the “portable” description being just a part of the process. I am one of those who still refers to it as PAT testing as it is a much easier mouthful than “In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment” and everybody knows what it means – or do they?
The issue of what or what is not tested has been clarified by the latest Code of Practice – In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 4[SUP]th[/SUP]Edition. This is telling us that Portable, which is usually the most common type of equipment, is only part of the test regime and there are other types ofelectrical equipment also requiring inspection and testing as a way of demonstrating compliance with electricity at work legislation.
These additional types include Fixed, Stationary, Movable, Hand Held etc and they are classified this way because of the way they are employed.
Portable appliances or equipment, by definition, is equipment less than 18kg that is intended to be moved while in operation or an appliance that can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, laminator, fanheater, desk fan, extension lead and this is what we normally call the Test.
But what about the other equipment that is not Portable. The client or employer has a legal responsibility under legislation to ensure that all electrical equipment and appliances are adequately maintained free from risk and I wonder do they know this.
When a client or employer sources someone to carry out what he usually calls PAT testing I doubt if he actually means that only the “portable equipment” is to be tested. I think what he wants is someone to carry out the necessary testing of electrical equipment on his site as recommended in the Code of Practice so that he is compliant with the legislation. Portable appliance testing only may well not achieve compliance.
What should be tested is, and by risk assessment, all electrical equipment and appliances whatever way they are connected to the electrical supply. This will most likely mean disconnection of equipment to expose the N,L,&E conductors so that the test can be carried out. This is something that most testers are not competent to do without suitable certification.
Some say that if it isn’t connected by a 13A plug it is considered part of the building’s general electrical installation. Not so. It comes under “In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment”
So where does this leave the client, tester and the insurance company whom, as I have said earlier, all seem to refer to this regime as PAT testing – Portable ApplianceTesting.
To the client, if this is all he wants done, then fine but he will not be in compliance with the legislation.
To the tester, if all he tests is portable appliances, he is not providing a proper service and the client may be of the opinion that he is paying for what is necessary to ensure he is compliant with legislation when in actual fact this will not be the case.
To the insurance company, if it provides cover for what is written in the policy “PAT testing “ and a tester, quite rightly, carries out the tests in accordance with “In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment”and causes a situation by testing a hard wired appliance which results in a claim, will the tester be covered? The insurer could claim that the cover only extended to Portable Appliances - equipment less than 18kg that is intended tobe moved while in operation or an appliance that can easily be moved from oneplace to another, e.g.toaster, laminator, fan heater, desk fan, extension lead etc.
So what can we do?
Under the current CoP the client is the person responsible for carrying out an assessment to determine the test regime necessary as he is liable under legislation for ensuring he maintains electrical equipment and appliances free from risk. The client should provide the tester with a list of equipment which he wants tested. That is all the tester should do bearing in mind this might include equipment which is hard wired as well as fitted with a plug. The tester should ensure he is properly qualified to isolate, disconnect and reconnect equipment or use someone who is. This can be a bit costly for what one gets per item tested but could be factored in to the price.
The insurances companies should keep up to date with the latest code of practice to ensure it provides the correct level of cover for testers operating under “In Service Inspection and Testing ofElectrical Equipment”.
All of this, I think, because we do not use the proper terminology for the process. Maybe we should really call it "IST" testing?
From my research it would seem that all the relevant parties – employers, testers and insurance companies, still call this PAT testing despite the “portable” description being just a part of the process. I am one of those who still refers to it as PAT testing as it is a much easier mouthful than “In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment” and everybody knows what it means – or do they?
The issue of what or what is not tested has been clarified by the latest Code of Practice – In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 4[SUP]th[/SUP]Edition. This is telling us that Portable, which is usually the most common type of equipment, is only part of the test regime and there are other types ofelectrical equipment also requiring inspection and testing as a way of demonstrating compliance with electricity at work legislation.
These additional types include Fixed, Stationary, Movable, Hand Held etc and they are classified this way because of the way they are employed.
Portable appliances or equipment, by definition, is equipment less than 18kg that is intended to be moved while in operation or an appliance that can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, laminator, fanheater, desk fan, extension lead and this is what we normally call the Test.
But what about the other equipment that is not Portable. The client or employer has a legal responsibility under legislation to ensure that all electrical equipment and appliances are adequately maintained free from risk and I wonder do they know this.
When a client or employer sources someone to carry out what he usually calls PAT testing I doubt if he actually means that only the “portable equipment” is to be tested. I think what he wants is someone to carry out the necessary testing of electrical equipment on his site as recommended in the Code of Practice so that he is compliant with the legislation. Portable appliance testing only may well not achieve compliance.
What should be tested is, and by risk assessment, all electrical equipment and appliances whatever way they are connected to the electrical supply. This will most likely mean disconnection of equipment to expose the N,L,&E conductors so that the test can be carried out. This is something that most testers are not competent to do without suitable certification.
Some say that if it isn’t connected by a 13A plug it is considered part of the building’s general electrical installation. Not so. It comes under “In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment”
So where does this leave the client, tester and the insurance company whom, as I have said earlier, all seem to refer to this regime as PAT testing – Portable ApplianceTesting.
To the client, if this is all he wants done, then fine but he will not be in compliance with the legislation.
To the tester, if all he tests is portable appliances, he is not providing a proper service and the client may be of the opinion that he is paying for what is necessary to ensure he is compliant with legislation when in actual fact this will not be the case.
To the insurance company, if it provides cover for what is written in the policy “PAT testing “ and a tester, quite rightly, carries out the tests in accordance with “In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment”and causes a situation by testing a hard wired appliance which results in a claim, will the tester be covered? The insurer could claim that the cover only extended to Portable Appliances - equipment less than 18kg that is intended tobe moved while in operation or an appliance that can easily be moved from oneplace to another, e.g.toaster, laminator, fan heater, desk fan, extension lead etc.
So what can we do?
Under the current CoP the client is the person responsible for carrying out an assessment to determine the test regime necessary as he is liable under legislation for ensuring he maintains electrical equipment and appliances free from risk. The client should provide the tester with a list of equipment which he wants tested. That is all the tester should do bearing in mind this might include equipment which is hard wired as well as fitted with a plug. The tester should ensure he is properly qualified to isolate, disconnect and reconnect equipment or use someone who is. This can be a bit costly for what one gets per item tested but could be factored in to the price.
The insurances companies should keep up to date with the latest code of practice to ensure it provides the correct level of cover for testers operating under “In Service Inspection and Testing ofElectrical Equipment”.
All of this, I think, because we do not use the proper terminology for the process. Maybe we should really call it "IST" testing?
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Daz
