Jcx500 Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Hi All, My Schools Site Manager is going to be doing PAT Testing soon and wants all my servers etc doing, Whats the best way to do this would you say? Thanks
Chuckster Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Usually they're testing the power cable, right? So if your servers are hooked up to a UPS, then the SM will want to test the power cable of the UPS, not the servers since all your servers will be using a male-to-female extension cable. Based on that it'll just be a quick pull on the power cable while the servers run on battery for a bit. 1
Griff Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Ours is done by a 3rd party and they only do a visual inspection of the servers/network hardware. 1
DrBeaker Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Ours is done by a 3rd party and they only do a visual inspection of the servers/network hardware. Scheduled and agreed downtime, otherwise come back another day! 1
Jawloms Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Ours is done by a 3rd party and they only do a visual inspection of the servers/network hardware. Yup, we just have visual checks. 1
steveg Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Visual only is all we do. A server really isn't a portable appliance - how many years will it take for the kettle lead to be subject to the same level of wear as the power cable on a vacuum cleaner? Sometimes if we have planned downtime for something we will do a full test then, but we tend not to worry if it goes over a year between full tests. Steve 2
KevinB Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Visual checks only once every three years on all of our rack-mounted kit. Whilst it has a plug, our PAT tester tells me that doesn't automatically make it portable and liable for testing, particularly if it's bolted into racks. 1
DrBeaker Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Visual checks only once every three years on all of our rack-mounted kit. Whilst it has a plug, our PAT tester tells me that doesn't automatically make it portable and liable for testing, particularly if it's bolted into racks. Depends on how some of these PAT testers get paid - some get paid per device, so the more "Portable Appliances" they find the more they get paid! Believe it or not!
gtabomber Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Depends on how some of these PAT testers get paid - some get paid per device, so the more "Portable Appliances" they find the more they get paid! Believe it or not! In a previous job i was contracted to install 500 new desktop PC's. Every new desktop came with a new power cable which was slung in to a large box. As these new desktops were replacements there was already an existing power cable there so the new ones weren't needed. One day I found the PAT guy sat at the box of 500 power cables looking rather bored. He had carried out a PAT on every single cable. Why? Because he was told to PAT everything! Nice little earner 2
m25man Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 I’m in a school now where there was a huge box full of brand new and unused IEC 13a mains leads in a stacking crate... Each one appears to have recently been individually PAT tested and labelled! What a rip off! 1
synaesthesia Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Visual only, they are not portable equipment. - - - Updated - - - I’m in a school now where there was a huge box full of brand new and unused IEC 13a mains leads in a stacking crate... Each one appears to have recently been individually PAT tested and labelled! What a rip off! Our most recent PAT test had them test all the Y-power cables twice (stickering each end). I've asked for them not to return.
Andrew_C Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Our most recent PAT test had them test all the Y-power cables twice (stickering each end). I've asked for them not to return. Actually not that stupid. The requirement is to "have a safe system of work" and "be maintained so as to be safe". Neither of which are possible unless you know that the cable (in this case) is good. To check the earth bond you have to test both legs. Now, I'd argue that this is probably a once off test in the case of most IT kit that sits in a rack, or on an office desk. Visual inspection thereafter.
synaesthesia Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 You'd test both yes of course; charging twice and stickering twice however... (this isn't the only reason they're not coming back, popping a few switches they shouldn't have unplugged to test either is the biggest reason from IT's POV) 1
SpuffMonkey Posted January 28, 2019 Posted January 28, 2019 Have a read here PAT (Portable appliance testing) - HSE's answers to popular questions and point him to it if he moans! 1
PotNoodleTech Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 PAT testers get a visual inspection of the server room supervised by me. No plugging or unplugging! 1
msi_school Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 I was once told that my checking with the PAT testers in a morning what computer kit was a waste of everyone's time and I was to leave them alone. The following afternoon the whole world went mad as the testers just pulled the power leads out of the back of the servers.
noelmm Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 I only do a visual check on servers and switches here to. PAT testing is designed to make sure portable items are safe to use as they are more prone to becoming damaged through wear and tear or negligence, you wouldn't have the same issue with servers and switches etc. as these should be in an area that is secure.
Fazza Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 As it's not practical to turn off all the servers to Inspect and Test the power cables so we do a Visual Inspection only. The PAT tester can make a note of this in their records. Never, ever PAT test a UPS they work differently to other electrical items (refer to manufacturers guide for a full explanation). If you get a new server then that's the time to PAT test/inspect the power lead and then visual inspections there after. 1
PotNoodleTech Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 If you get a new server then that's the time to PAT test/inspect the power lead and then visual inspections there after. But you don't need to pat test a server or even a lead if it is brand new?
Jobos Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 Visual check here too. We’ve had our fair share of problems with pat testers so now do it in house after the pat testers were caught on cctv just sticking labels on the suite machines without even a visual check. Out of interest how often do you pat test IT kit? We got hold of a document written by the LA specifying 2-4 years for IT kit in low risk areas. 1
Mako Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 Out of interest how often do you pat test IT kit? We got hold of a document written by the LA specifying 2-4 years for IT kit in low risk areas. Site manager (who is also our H&S officer) went on a course and received guidance that said every 3 years was the acceptable length of time to PAT test desktops. We used to do it every year. Everyone likes not paying the company to come every year.
pete Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 Visual check, carried out under supervision from IT staff. We do PAT testing inhouse, so our site team have a vested interest in not creating unnecessary work. We (for our part) endeavour to not swap in untested cables when we refresh a room to make their lives easier.
thebatman Posted January 29, 2019 Posted January 29, 2019 Visual only, Servers, switches ect fitted into a rack are not classed as portable. Never PAT a UPS. When we get down time we sometimes do servers and switches then.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now