Portable Appliance Testing Regulations

Portable appliances are everywhere, in your home, at work, in schools. Naturally, with such high numbers of portable appliances in circulation these days, electrical accidents are going to happen. Did you know, however that 25% of all electrical incidents were due to faulty portable appliances. The government have a number of Portable Appliance Testing Regulations in place to protect tenants and employees from electrical hazards. These Portable Appliance Testing Regulations affect both landlords and businesses, though the regulations affecting them are separate.

Landlords are required, under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994, to conduct Portable Appliance Testing on all appliances that draw their power from the mains. It is a legal requirement under these regulations that the Portable Appliance Testing must be conducted before a landlord lets their property. Testing must also be conducted at regular intervals to maintain safety standards.

Business owners must comply with a different set of Portable Appliance Testing Regulations. Under the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974, Businesses are obliged to conduct Portable Appliance Testing where any appliance is used by an employee, the public, supplied or hired and repaired or serviced. In order to comply with regulations the level of inspection must be in line with the appliances complexity and the nature in which the appliance will be used.

If you are seeking to rent a property, renew a test certificate or ensuring the safety of your employees contact BLC Property Services. They have a team of fully qualified PAT testers on hand and offer some of the cheapest rates around.