Is PAT Testing a legal requirement?

Pat Testing Equipment

PAT testing is a requirement under the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989)

The requirements require you to take all reasonable precautions to keep people safe. This entails matching the degree of risk with the steps necessary to mitigate it. However, the rules do not define how you should accomplish this. For example, PAT testing is a widely accepted method of evaluating and testing electrical equipment to determine if it is safe to continue using or whether a repair is necessary.

The Institute of Engineering and Technology's Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment guides PAT testing protocols (IET). Adhering to the Code of Practice is a recognized example of good practice, and by doing so, you increase your chances of complying with the requirements.

Along with the Electricity at Work Regulations, other essential law for electrical maintenance includes the following:

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974

• The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

• The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998

• Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992

• Electricity at Work Regulations (1989)