Electrical testing

[klc106]

Hi all

 

We are in the process of moving premises for our pre-school. Our new contract states that we will need our electrical items PAT tested each year. We only use a dvd player, tablet charger and digital photo frame during the day. We also have a fridge, kettle and toaster that are used regularly.

 

In our old premises we never had to do this as the equipment we used belonged to the village hall and they dealt with it. We have had to buy most of the items we are going to be using in the new premises (a church hall) but we will also be using their tv.

 

Do you all get your electrical items tested?

Who carries out the test?

How much does it usually cost?

 

Thanks in advance

[blondie]

yes we get all our items tested - kettle, microwave, computer etc each year - we are lucky in that one of committee members partner is a qualified electrician so he does it -not sure how much he charges.

think it is part of our health and safety audit.

[Melba]

The HSE say this

 

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. However, the Regulations do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently (ie they don't make inspection or testing of electrical appliances a legal requirement, nor do they make it a legal requirement to undertake this annually).

[Melba]

And this

 

The person doing testing work needs to competent to do it. In many low-risk environments, a sensible (competent) member of staff can undertake visual inspections if they have enough knowledge and training. However, when undertaking combined inspection and testing, a greater level of knowledge and experience is needed, and the person will need:

• the right equipment to do the tests
• the ability to use this test equipment properly
• the ability to properly understand the test results

[Stargrower]

Yes we get everything tested annually. We are a full daycare setting so there are lots of things to test - computers, CD players, toasters, mocrowaves, fridge freezers, extension leads, food processors, blenders, baby monitors etc etc! I think our electrician charges us 80p per item and we have around 50 - 60 items tested.

[narnia]

However, it is NOT a legal requirement. It IS good practice.

[finleysmaid]

We do ours every two years (as the regulations just say regularly!) no new equipment needs to be done for the first period. If you look up electricians there will be loads that do PAT testing....I think it cost us about £50 last time we did it but some will charge per item rather than for time. Check and see if someone can do it locally (ie parent etc) but they do need to record so it may cost you a bit. Electrical cable testing needs to be done every 5 years ...this is much more costly but will probably be covered by the owner of the building.

[finleysmaid]

However, it is NOT a legal requirement. It IS good practice.

but your insurance company probably requires it and it used to be in the statutory requirements I think?

[narnia]

It's not in the statutory requirements; it simply states that providers must comply with Health and safety law.(Even my horrible OFSTED ladies didn't ask about it) There is no law stating that you must have PAT testing done. If your insurance company requires it, could they enforce it, if it isn't a legal requirement, though I understand it might be a condition of their insurance? For us, it'snot an issue, as my daughter trained to do PAT testing, so we get it free anyway.

Edited July 24, 2015 by narnia

[Inge]

We just did an annual visual check, no one asked for it , could not find anywhere that said we must do it , and most of our items were new or a couple of years old.. but as klc has found some find it a part of their hire agreement..

 

When I needed to get stuff done for son going to uni ( it was part of his agreement to have it done) we called around local electricians and found their prices.. some charged a blanket one for all items, others a call out and then per item, some per item.. such a variation so worth calling a few ..

[lashes2508]

Usually our pat tester says if items are newly purchased ie under a year old it's fine but for what it costs which is very little , it is good practice and usually a must for insurance purposes, remember pat testing does not prevent electrical fires !

[blondie]

we also regularly check the wires to things such as kettle, computers etc to make sure there are no wires showing - we ask staff to do this as they set up/use the item.