PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING (PAT)

If you run a business, let out a furnished property, or are simply responsible for portable electrical appliances that other people use, PAT testing is the recognised way of showing those appliances are safe. We carry out PAT testing for landlords and small businesses across Mid Sussex, and issue a proper certificate and appliance register at the end of it.

HOW IT WORKS

• Visual inspection: checking the plug, cable, and casing of each appliance for damage, wear, or previous poor repairs.
• Electrical testing: using a PAT tester to check earth continuity and insulation resistance (and other tests where relevant to the appliance type).
• Every appliance tested is labelled with a pass/fail sticker and the test date.
• You’re given a full appliance register and certificate for your records, showing what was tested and the results.

DO YOU LEGALLY NEED IT?

“PAT testing” itself isn’t named in law, and there’s no fixed legal interval — but employers have a general duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to keep electrical equipment safe, and landlords have similar duties for appliances they provide in a rented property. Regular PAT testing, at a frequency suited to the appliance and how hard it’s used, is the standard way of demonstrating you’ve met that duty — which matters if there’s ever an insurance claim or an HSE inquiry after an incident.

WHEN WE COME IN

We’re often asked to do PAT testing alongside an EICR or routine landlord check, but it works just as well as a standalone visit — we can test everything from office and salon equipment to appliances left in a holiday let or HMO. Get in touch and tell us roughly how many appliances you need testing and we’ll give you a price.

Any questions about this or your job? Call us on 01444 682683 or email info@mlpelectrics.co.uk — we’re happy to talk it through.