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PAT testing in St Albans and Hertfordshire.
Portable appliance testing for offices, schools, shops, sites and landlords: labelled, recorded and explained, with a sensible retest interval for every item.
Tell us roughly how many items and sites, and we will quote. Call 0345 3 822 833 or email hello@segplc.com.
Who we PAT test for
- Offices and shops: kettles, heaters, extension leads, IT and chargers
- Schools and colleges: classroom, kitchen, science and IT equipment, often as part of a school maintenance contract
- Landlords, letting agents and HMOs: appliances supplied with the property
- Housing providers: landlord-supplied equipment checks for social tenancies
- Sites and workshops: 110V tools, site offices and welfare units
- Churches, clubs and community buildings
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems and equipment to be maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable. HSE’s guidance is clear that the law does not specify PAT testing or say how often to do it: what matters is that equipment is kept safe, based on a sensible assessment of the risk. Regular inspection and testing, with records, is how most organisations show they have done that, and many insurers and landlords’ licences expect it.
How often should equipment be tested?
The IET Code of Practice (5th edition, 2020) dropped the old table of fixed intervals: frequencies are now set by a risk assessment, looking at the environment, who uses the equipment, how it is built and how often it is used. HSE’s guidance gives these suggested starting points:
| Equipment and environment | User checks | Formal visual inspection | Combined inspection and test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kettles and similar Class I equipment | Yes | Every 6 to 12 months | Every 1 to 2 years |
| Office IT that is rarely moved | No | Every 2 to 4 years | None if double insulated, otherwise up to 5 years |
| Construction site, 110V tools | Weekly | Monthly | Before first use on site, then every 3 months |
| Construction site, 230V equipment | Daily or every shift | Weekly | Before first use on site, then monthly |
| Site offices | Monthly | Every 6 months | Before first use on site, then yearly |
| Hire equipment | – | Before issue and after return | Before issue |
Source: HSE, HSG107 Maintaining portable electrical equipment, Table 1. These are suggestions, not legal requirements.
What a PAT test covers
- A visual inspection of the item, plug, lead and fuse. HSE notes that most defects are found this way.
- Electrical tests with a calibrated tester: earth continuity and insulation resistance on Class I (earthed) items, insulation on Class II (double-insulated) items, and polarity on extension leads and leads with plugs at both ends.
- Labels on every item, pass or fail, and an asset register you can show an insurer or inspector.
- A recommended retest interval for each type of item in the report. In line with HSE guidance, the label does not carry a fixed “next test due” date: the person responsible for the equipment decides that, and we give you the recommendation.
PAT testing for landlords
Private landlords in England have no specific PAT duty under the electrical safety regulations, which cover the fixed installation (an EICR at least every five years). But any appliances you supply must be safe, HMO licences require appliances you provide to be kept safe, and some local licences make PAT a condition.
Social landlords (registered providers) must now have equipment they supply checked by a qualified person at regular intervals of no more than five years, and before a new tenancy starts. For tenancies that began before 1 December 2025, the first check must be done before 1 November 2026. We can combine these checks with your EICR programme. See housing providers.
What commonly fails
- Cut, frayed or heavily scuffed leads, and damage where the lead enters the plug
- Taped joints, or coloured wires showing
- The wrong fuse, or something that is not a fuse at all
- Burn marks or staining from overheating
- Cracked casings and loose screws
- Leads trapped under furniture or in floor boxes, and equipment used somewhere wet or dusty
PAT testing questions we’re asked
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Not as such. The law requires employers and landlords to keep electrical equipment safe, and HSE says the Regulations do not make inspection or testing of appliances, or annual testing, a legal requirement. In practice, regular inspection and testing is how most businesses, schools and landlords show they have kept equipment safe.
How often should PAT testing be done?
It depends on the risk: the type of equipment, how it is used and where. HSE’s guidance gives starting points, for example every 1 to 2 years for kettles and similar Class I equipment in offices and shops, and every 3 months for 110V tools on construction sites. We recommend a retest interval for each item in your report.
Do landlords need PAT testing?
Private landlords in England have no specific PAT duty, but must keep any appliances they supply safe, and some HMO and selective licences make PAT a condition. Social landlords must have equipment they supply checked at regular intervals of no more than five years, and for older tenancies the first check is due before 1 November 2026.
What happens during a PAT test?
We inspect each item, its plug and its lead for damage, check the fuse, then test it with a calibrated PAT tester: earth continuity and insulation resistance for Class I items, insulation for Class II, and polarity for extension leads. Each item gets a pass or fail label and goes on your asset register.
What happens if an item fails?
We label it as failed and tell you straight away, so it can be taken out of use. Many failures are simple, such as a wrong fuse or a damaged plug, and we can often repair them on the spot.
Is PAT testing the same as an EICR?
No. PAT testing covers equipment that plugs in. An EICR covers the fixed wiring: the fuse board, circuits, sockets and lights. Most businesses, schools and landlords need both.
Sources
- HSE, Portable appliance testing: FAQs
- HSE, HSG107 Maintaining portable electrical equipment and INDG236
- legislation.gov.uk, Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4
- IET, The 5th edition Code of Practice for in-service inspection and testing
- legislation.gov.uk, Electrical Safety Standards Regulations 2020, regulation 3B and SI 2025/1043
- GOV.UK, Guide for landlords: electrical safety standards
Written by SEG. Last updated 11 October 2026.
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