The History Of Pat Testing

The History of PAT Testing Prior to 1989 the testing of electrical equipment for safety was fairly common in government departments, tool hire companies, and some other sectors of industry. However, it was the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which... More

The History of PAT Testing Prior to 1989 the testing of electrical equipment for safety was fairly common in government departments, tool hire companies, and some other sectors of industry. However, it was the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, which actually came into force on April 1 1990 that set the wheels in motion for what is now known as PAT testing. Portable Appliance Testing has now become essential for any business which wishes to remain in compliance with the regulations. A portable appliance is basically anything that has a plug on one end of a cable that can be plugged into an electrical socket. The kettle in which you boil the water for your morning coffee or cup of tea is a portable appliance. So is your toaster, washing machine, tumble dryer, deep fat fryer, vacuum cleaner, table lamp, laptop, IT equipment, hand-held equipment, and a whole lot more. If it has a cable and a plug it is a portable appliance. Strangely, that also applies if it is a heavy piece of machine Less