PAT Testing FAQs

Item descriptionElectrical PAT testing — properly called Portable Appliance Testing — is the inspection of portable electrical equipment to confirm it's safe to use. It combines a visual check for damage with electrical tests using a calibrated PAT tester. Items that pass are labelled with a dated sticker, and you receive a written certificate and asset register. PAT testing covers everything from kettles and computers to power tools, extension leads, and white goods — essentially anything that plugs in.

New electrical appliances do not legally need PAT testing before first use. Manufacturers are required to supply equipment in a safe condition under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016, so a brand-new item is presumed safe.

However, the IET Code of Practice recommends a visual inspection of all new equipment before it goes into service, and many businesses choose to formally PAT test new items at the same time as their next scheduled test cycle so that the asset register is complete. If you're a landlord or employer, recording new items on your inventory from day one — even without a full electrical test — is good practice and useful evidence of due diligence.

Most commercial insurance policies require evidence that electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition, but they don't typically require new items to be tested before use.

The standard approach is to add new equipment to your asset register when purchased and include it in your next scheduled PAT test.

If your insurer has asked specifically for all items to be tested regardless of age, we can include new equipment at the same per-item rate.

There's no single legal interval — the HSE and IET Code of Practice recommend testing based on the environment and equipment type. As a general guide: construction sites every 3 months, industrial environments and equipment in heavy use every 6–12 months, offices and shops every 12–24 months, low-risk equipment (IT, desk lamps) every 2–4 years, and rental properties between tenancies or at least every 2 years.

We'll advise on the right frequency for your specific setup.

PAT testing isn't named in any UK law, but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 all require employers, landlords, and self-employed people to ensure electrical equipment is safe.

PAT testing is the recognised method of demonstrating compliance, and insurers, letting agents, and tenants commonly ask to see current PAT certificates as evidence.

Class 1 appliances rely on an earth connection for safety — they have a metal casing or exposed metal parts, and a fault in the live wire is made safe by the current flowing to earth. Examples: kettles, microwaves, irons, toasters, most fridges, and most kitchen appliances. Class 1 items require a full PAT test including earth continuity, insulation resistance, and (where applicable) leakage tests.

Class 2 appliances are "double insulated" and don't need an earth — they're marked with a double-square symbol (⧈). Examples: most modern TVs, hair dryers, phone chargers, laptop power supplies, and many power tools. Class 2 items only need insulation resistance testing, not earth continuity, so they're quicker and cheaper to test.

We identify the class of every item as part of the visual inspection and apply the correct test sequence automatically.

Periodic inspection testing, more formally called an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR), is different from PAT testing. EICR checks the fixed wiring in a building — sockets, switches, distribution boards, lighting circuits — and is carried out by a qualified electrician. PAT testing checks the appliances that plug into that wiring. Most premises need both: EICR every 5 years (or between tenancies for rentals), and PAT testing on a more frequent cycle. PATsafety provides PAT testing only — we can recommend a trusted EICR engineer if you need one.

Our pricing is £20 for the first 10 items, then 50p per item thereafter. No call-out fees, no VAT, no hidden charges. A small office with 30 items would cost £30 total (£20 + 20 × 50p). A landlord's small flat with 8 items would cost £20. Larger sites are quoted on the same per-item basis. You receive a full asset register and compliance certificate by email, usually the same day.

Each item typically takes 2–5 minutes depending on type and accessibility. A small office of 20–30 items is usually completed within an hour. A full pub or restaurant with 100+ items takes 3–4 hours. We schedule to minimise disruption — early mornings, evenings, and weekends are available at no extra cost.

A failed item is removed from service and labelled as failed. Where the fault is minor — a damaged plug, blown fuse, or loose cable grip — we'll usually repair it on the spot at no extra cost and retest it. If the fault is internal or the item is genuinely unsafe, we'll advise you to replace or have it specialist-repaired. Either way, you receive a written record showing exactly what was tested, what passed, and what failed.

If you let property, you have a legal duty under the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 to ensure all electrical appliances you supply are safe. While there's no specified interval, between tenancies or annually is widely considered best practice. Letting agents in Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Bristol increasingly require current PAT certificates before listing a property. The cost (typically £20 for a small flat) is minor compared to the consequences of being found negligent after an incident.

We cover all of South Wales and parts of the South West of England, including Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Merthyr Tydfil, Pontypridd, Bristol, Weston-super-Mare, and surrounding areas. If you're outside these areas, get in touch — we may still be able to help.