Regulations re plugs on second hand goods

ringer · Oct 8, 2010

I am under the impression that any second hand electrical goods, whether sold or donated (e.g. charitable gifts) have to be PAT tested and plugs must conform to current standards. Have read through relevant sections of the 'Electrical Equipment - Requirements for Plugs & Sockets etc Guidance notes on the UK Plugs & Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 (S.I. 1994/1768)' , but cannot find any explicit regulation stating this.

I am particularly interested in regulations/laws regarding sleeved pins on plugs for equipment supplied from charity shops. Can anyone point me to explicit legislation covering this?

ringer · Oct 10, 2010

No takers on this then? Okay. So this is what I have found...

The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994

Prohibitions on supply etc. of appliances

12.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, no person shall supply, offer for supply, agree to supply, expose for supply or possess for supply any appliance unless that appliance is correctly fitted with a standard plug which–

(a)complies with the requirements of regulation 8...

So referring to Regulation 8:

Approval of standard plugs

8.—(1) Subject to the following provisions of this regulation, a standard plug shall be of a type approved by a notified body, and in respect of which such approval has not been cancelled, and in determining applications made to it for such approval the notified body shall not grant such approval unless it is satisfied–

(a)that plugs of that type conform to BS 1363...

Now I don't have access to BS1363, so I am unable to quote the exact part of the standard. However, it is pretty common knowledge amongst those of us in the industry that the current standard of a BS1363 plug includes sleeved live and neutral pins.

From Wikipedia (yes, I know, not the most reliable of sources)

Pin insulation

The phase and neutral pins on modern plugs have insulated bases to prevent finger contact with pins and also to stop metal sheets (for example, fallen window blind slats) from becoming live if lodged between the wall and a partly pulled out plug.

BS1363 itself would cost £186 to purchase, but here is some info from the BSI shop

BS 1363-5:2008 13 A plugs, socket-outlets, adaptors and connection units. Specification for fused conversion plugs

...
The scope of BS 1363-5 is limited to devices that:

have insulating sleeves on line and neutral pins

...

pattester · Oct 27, 2010

Hi ,this is just a quick answer to the question, as I have not delved into all the regulations you have come up with. However I do have a spin on it as we carry out some PAT testing for British Heart Foundation
My answer would be yes they do have to be, or should be, PAT tested, as crikey, you wouldnt want to risk anything going out without being tested if you were a shop manager, no way, Jose!!!

About the sleeved and non sleeved subject, I take it to mean from the IEE code of Practice that the law is not retrospective, i.e they dont actually need changing by law, but you must not attach one to any new appliance. Having said that, because of the risk factor here, i.e stuff is not only coming in from the public, its going out to the public as well!!!! then all the plugs not sleeved should in fact be changed just for reasons of good practice.

So basically with regards to charity items I would say 100% needs to be sleeved, although the regulations dont necessarily back that up to the nth degree.

ringer · Oct 27, 2010

Charity shops are supplying goods, so the regulations do apply to them. The fact that the goods are second hand and the plug complied with the regulations as they were when they were new is irrelevant.

The Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994 states ...no person shall supply...any appliance unless it is fitted with a standard plug....etc

Patman · Oct 27, 2010

Hey guys - get a grip. Stands to reason goods shouldn't go out unsafe. Just do it !! Rather than hot discussions on what legislation covers what - just apply "best practice" - which in itself means doing the right thing.