You’ve sat your ‘PAT Testing’ training course, you passed the exam and you’ve started the job. While we would like everything to go a smoothly as possible for you, naturally there will be questions. This section contains additional information and resources to help build your confidence, answer those niggling little queries and get you up and running as quickly and efficiently as possible.
Okay, firstly you need to understand the ‘PAT Testing’ name is actually made up and is very misleading. The correct name for this role is actually ‘In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment’. As you can see, the ‘portability’ of the item has nothing to do with it and there as more things to consider than just ‘testing’.
Here you will find more information on the different stages of the inspection and testing process.
The ‘testing’ part of the inspection and testing process is arguably the easy bit… as long as you follow the 4 basic steps:
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- Plug the item into your test device (obvious, but often forgotten!)
- Ensure the item is switched on. The test device uses the live and neutral wires of the item under test, so it must be switched on.
- Attach your test lead to exposed bare metal on the item under test (not painted or coated metal… bare metal). This applies to Class I and Class II equipment.
- Do not touch the item under test. If the item has an electrical fault, it could become live when tested. If you are touching it when you test it, you could receive a shock.
Here are a few worked examples.
Whether you have been carrying out the ‘PAT Testing’ role for a while, or a new starter, it’s good to test your knowledge and ensure you really understand what you are doing.
Over time we all become a little rusty, or pick up bad habits… or maybe we just have a little mental block and can’t quite grasp something. There’s no shame in this as long as we are taking steps to rectify the problem. The shame falls upon those who can’t be bothered or think good standards don’t apply to them.
These quizzes will help reinforce what we already know, clarify if we have a doubt and for new starters, introduce new ideas.
Have as many goes as you like… they are free to use.
Unfortunately, as with most roles, there is paperwork associated with ‘PAT Testing’. Whilst it’s not a legal requirement to keep ‘PAT Testing’ records for low risk environments, it is strongly recommended in case there is an incident and subsequent investigation.
In this section you will find examples of log sheets which are used to record the results of an inspection and tests, along with additional information regarding remedial work carried out and any action taken with failed items.
They are free to download and use, so help yourself.