PAT testing is one of those terms that gets thrown around a lot in business settings — but many business owners aren't entirely sure what it involves, whether they're legally required to do it, or how often it needs to happen. This guide clears it all up.
PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing. It's a process of inspecting and electrically testing portable electrical equipment to check that it's safe to use. A "portable appliance" is broadly anything that has a plug and can be moved — from a laptop charger to a floor-standing photocopier.
The process involves two stages:
Each appliance is given a pass or fail result and labelled accordingly, and the results are recorded in a test register.
This is where there's a lot of confusion. There is no specific law that says you must PAT test your appliances. However, several pieces of legislation require employers to maintain electrical equipment in a safe condition:
PAT testing is the most practical way to demonstrate that you've met these obligations. In the event of an accident or insurance claim, being able to show a current PAT test register is significant evidence that you've taken reasonable steps to maintain electrical safety.
Insurance policies: Many business insurance policies require regular PAT testing as a condition of cover — particularly for trades businesses, venues, and organisations that hire out equipment. Check your policy wording if you're unsure.
Any business or organisation that uses portable electrical equipment should have it tested. In practice, the most common clients for PAT testing include:
Self-employed individuals and sole traders who use electrical equipment for their work should also consider PAT testing, particularly if they work on client sites or carry insurance that requires it.
There's no single fixed interval — the recommended frequency depends on the type of equipment and the environment it's used in. The IET Code of Practice gives guidance based on risk:
| Environment | Equipment Type | Suggested Interval |
|---|---|---|
| Office or low-risk | IT equipment, desk lamps | Every 2–4 years |
| Office or low-risk | Extension leads, floor-standing equipment | Every 1–2 years |
| Industrial or construction | Power tools, extension leads | Every 3 months |
| Construction (110V) | Power tools and leads | Every month |
| Hire equipment | Any | Before each hire |
| Furnished rental property | White goods, lamps, etc. | Annually or on change of tenancy |
These are guidance intervals, not legal deadlines. A risk-based approach is sensible — equipment that's used heavily, moved frequently or used in harsher environments should be tested more often.
A PAT test is straightforward and doesn't require equipment to be taken off site. We work through the premises systematically:
Most appliances take just a few minutes to test. For a typical small office, a full PAT test can be completed in a couple of hours with minimal disruption to the working day.
If an appliance fails its PAT test, it should be taken out of service immediately and either repaired or disposed of. A failed appliance should not be used until the fault has been rectified and it has been re-tested and passed. We'll flag any failures clearly and advise on whether repair or replacement is the more practical option.
PAT testing is typically priced per appliance, with the cost per item reducing as the volume increases. For businesses in Darlington and the North East, you can expect:
We'll confirm a fixed price before we start. Get in touch with an approximate number of appliances and we'll give you a quote straight away.
Combined with an EICR: Many businesses book PAT testing alongside their EICR inspection — it's efficient, and having both pieces of documentation in order at the same time makes compliance straightforward. If your premises also has emergency lighting, we can carry out the annual emergency lighting test at the same time and issue a single visit report covering all three.
