I passed another exam!

[stephenleak]

Woohoo! I passed my City & Guilds Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment (aka PAT Testing) exam yesterday! Another "sustificut", as we say in Bristle. Another entry on the CV.

[dezt]

I wonder if you can help me out then, I was wondering how often electrical equipment, ie computers, have to be tested? is it every year or is it every 2 years?

[plexer]

How often do I have items tested?

 

There is no specific schedule set out. There are however guidelines to help. The frequency of testing depends on the type of equipment and the enviroment in which it is used. For example a high-risk item such as an electric drill should be tested more frequently than a low risk item such as a PC. Furthermore a drill that is used everyday in a high density manufacturing plant should be tested more frequently than a drill used only occasionally in an office environment. Essentially it is the responsibility of the employer to assessthe risk involved and implement it's own programme of testing. Most companies still opt for a blanket test of all equipment on an annual basis to ensure conformity.

 

Taken from:

 

http://www.pattesting.co.uk/pattesting_qanda.htm

 

Ben

[plexer]

Our Lea test all electrical items every 12 months though.

 

Ben

[stephenleak]

I wonder if you can help me out then, I was wondering how often electrical equipment, ie computers, have to be tested? is it every year or is it every 2 years?

 

From the table in the Code of Practice, the suggested figures for IT equipment in a school are ...

 

User Check:

Weekly

 

Visual Inspection:

Class 1 (Earthed) - None

Class 2 (Double Insulated) - 12 months

 

Combined Inspection & Testing:

Class 1 (Earthed) - 12 months

Class 2 (Double Insulated) - 48 months.

[Geoff]

For the non-electricans in the crowd, Earthed means the device is connected to the electrical earth, Double insulated means it doesn't need to be. So the easy way to spot the difference is to check if the plug on the device has a plastic earth pin or not.

[Oops_my_bad]

For the non-electricans in the crowd, Earthed means the device is connected to the electrical earth, Double insulated means it doesn't need to be. So the easy way to spot the difference is to check if the plug on the device has a plastic earth pin or not.

Uh oh.. so I take it using an interchangeable kettle lead that has a plastic earth pin and using it on an appliance that is not double insulated is a bit... donjerous?

[Geoff]

Indeed, you may cause a slight shock, death or electrical fire. But PAT testing is supposed to pick up on this kind of mistake.

[dezt]

Thanks for that, it's cleared up things for me a bit.

[Lee_K_81]

* Rushes off to check all the wiring!

[Guest richard]

Woohoo! I passed my City & Guilds Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment (aka PAT Testing) exam yesterday! Another "sustificut", as we say in Bristle. Another entry on the CV.

 

I shredded my certificate last month as I didn't want to do it in the first place. Got put on the course a couple of years ago without being told then had to do the PAT testing for the entire school

[stephenleak]

At least ours is a managed building, so I will only have to do the IT kit.