As it’s the Electrical Fire Safety Week this week, we’re looking at ten things you can tell your clients and future clients to encourage them to stay safe whilst using electrical appliances.
Visual Inspections: Ten Things your Eyes can Spot
This week we’ve been considering the process of testing and in particular the visual test and the kind of things you can spot on a visual inspection.
A very experienced professional PAT tester once told us that in all the years he had been carrying out PAT procedures, he had failed items more times on the visual inspection than on any of the electrical tests.
So with this thought, we’ve come up with a list of ten things we think you could possibly discover whilst performing a visual test on a portable appliance.
What is PAT Testing?
The term ‘PAT’ stands for Portable Appliance Testing and is a way of testing portable appliances to ensure they comply with the electricity at work regulations 1989.
These regulations state that all appliances shall be ‘maintained’ to prevent danger. One way of ensuring that this law is being fulfilled is to have pat testing completed on appliances in environments which fall under the regulations, i.e. workplaces.
PAT testing should be carried out in workplaces where people will be using equipment. All workplaces generally have some kind of electrical equipment regardless of what their business is and all should be getting PAT testing completed to ensure they are fulfilling the legal requirement to maintain portable appliances.
The term ‘portable appliance’ covers all items which have a plug and lead and can be moved around. This includes things like kettles, computers, printers, TV’s, washing machines, fridges, microwaves, toasters and electric knives, etc.
The amount of items we use on a daily basis in many different workplaces and industries means that there is a lot of equipment needing to be maintained by employers and business owners. By offering your PAT testing services to these people you will be able to build a mutually beneficial relationship for future contracts.
Written by Sara Thomson
Are Overload Tests to Become Part of the BS136-1?
Overload tests for plugs are set to become a part of the 2012 BS1363-1 specification for rewirable and non rewirable 13A plugs.
The ESC conducted an investigation in 2010 on the overloading of four-way extension leads. The investigation found that it is possible to overload extension leads causing dangerous conditions, and the 13amp plug is the weakest component.
Most of the plugs in the test showed damage from overheating after being overloaded. With some of the plugs reaching shocking surface temperatures of up to 200°C, it is not surprising that the plugs showed signs of damage. This obviously then puts users of the plug at risk of electric shock. One of the samples even left the conductor pin in the socket outlet when removed from the mains.
What’s the Difference Between PAT and Fixed Wire Testing?
Periodic Inspection and Testing, commonly known as fixed wire testing, is very different from portable appliance testing.
The two are very different tests, perform different functions and require a different set of skills in order to carry them out.
Whereas PAT testing covers the testing of appliances such as kettles, coffee makers, fridges, computers, printers, etc, fixed wire testing covers the testing of an electrical installation’s main electrical wiring system.
The good news is that if you want to diversify, you can do both PAT testing training and periodic inspection and testing training.
PAT Training: Choose your Method
Learning to PAT test can be very rewarding but sometimes personal or professional restrictions hold you back from fulfilling your training requirements. PAT Testing Course has a range of options to suit all circumstances and needs.
At Home
Do you want to learn PAT Testing and be able to offer the service or build a business, but struggle to find the time to attend a class?
Don’t worry because you can get a copy of the PAT training DVD to train at home in your own time. The training programme DVD is approved by NAPIT so you know you are getting a good quality product.
Take a look at our PAT DVD information page which contains video sample footage of some parts of the DVD so you can get a good feel of what it is like.
Government Discount for Commercial Vehicles
Green issues have become big business recently and these issues have affected many industries and businesses. Now however, those who use commercial vehicles have the opportunity to benefit from some of these changes.
The Government has this year named seven ultra-low carbon vans which qualify for a discount of up to £8000. These include:
- Ford Transit Connect Electric
- Mercedes-Benz Vito E-CELL
- Renault Kangoo ZE
- Faam ECOMILE
- Faam JOLLY 2000
- Mia-electric Mia U
- Smith Electric Smith Edison
What is a Competent Person?
The IEE Code of Practice states that a person carrying out PAT testing must be competent. They define the term ‘competent’ as:
“A person possessing sufficient knowledge or experience to be capable of ensuring that injury is prevented.”
Which PAT Testing Course?
Sometimes it can be difficult to decide which PAT testing course is best for you and ultimately which one will give you the best training for your money.
You don’t have to worry because PAT-Testing-Course has one of the best PAT training programmes in the UK, available for you to book today.
What is PAT Testing?
The term PAT testing stands for portable appliance testing and is the process by which the testing of appliances takes place. This is done because the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state that:
“As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger.”
