PAT Testing... pass or fail

[Jobos]

Been PAT testing today or should I say electrical equipment testing. I had just finished the room and as I was leaving I glanced up to see a desk fan fitted about 2.5m up and hard wired what looks like into the mains. Following the conduit it joins a double socket but there is no sign of any isolating switch or fuse so I don't know if it should fail just because there is no way to isolate it?

 

 

[3s-gtech]

It becomes fixed electrical (I think!) rather than being a normal part of PAT. It's certainly not a good way of doing it!

[MS2011]

Is there a list what to PAT test? Server, switches etc?

 

We got a year old chroombooks, do we need to do the PAT test or just chargers?

[bald_pig]

Don't forget that the P stands for portable, if you can't unplug it and take it away, it doesn't need PAT testing!

[Jobos]

Don't forget that the P stands for portable, if you can't unplug it and take it away, it doesn't need PAT testing!

 

That all changed last year when the 5th edition of the regs came out, now fixed appliances fall under the remit of the test so hand dryers in toilets for instance would need testing. This https://www.nationalsafetyinspections.co.uk/blog/changes-to-pat-testing-5th-edition-cop explains some of the changes although best to get a copy of the regs https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practice-Inspection-Electrical-Equipment-Regulations/dp/1785619667

[Jobos]

Is there a list what to PAT test? Server, switches etc?

 

We got a year old chroombooks, do we need to do the PAT test or just chargers?

 

Not so much as what items need testing but listed from what voltage to test so I don't test laptops just the charger and cable.

[MS2011]

Not so much as what items need testing but listed from what voltage to test so I don't test laptops just the charger and cable.

 

Is there any documentation or guide out there saying that don’t need to test laptop,chrome book and servers.

 

Our PAT tester do whatever he feel he need to test.

[Chris_Cook]

If its on its own circuit with a low value breaker like 6 amps, then it might be ok. If its on a ring main, then it needs a fused spur (probably switched) as the appliance flex is rated less that the ring main wiring and the circuit breaker. It should be labelled with where the isolator is at a minimum - in case it gets knocked off the wall etc. There are probably more suitable fans that could be fitted while they are there. Basically, wherever you reduce the diameter of wires and the current carrying capacity, you need a fuse or circuit breaker.

 

I'd pass it on to the site or H&S manager and recommend they get an approved electrician in to look at it.

 

It might be on some sort of old style lighting or clock socket but it doesn't look like it. It might slide or twist off, but don't undo the black bit. But if its outside of your training/expertise, then get some advice from a pro.

 

--

 

As for what to test, its up to the organisation to do a risk assessment looking at the likelihood of damage and frequency of damage, as well as the class of equipment and built in protection like earthing. The HSE has an example table.

 

All organisations are legally responsible for buildings, infrastructure and all work equipment and making sure its safe or dealt with. Someone qualified needs to determine whether that's a user pre-use visual inspection, regular formal visual inspection, PAT test, or fixed wiring test, or specific tests for say machinery like lifts, DT equipment etc. There's also issues with things like IWBs, stage light rigs and whether they are securely fixed to walls, ceilings etc. The legalities are mostly covered by PUWER (Provision and use of work equipment regulations) and building regs.

 

Often equipment will need a combination of tests at different intervals. EG power tools probably need user inspections, PAT testing as well as specific testing from a tool expert. The PA testing would need to be done alongside (or by) someone with expertise with the tool.

 

So something like a laptop charger is probably fine with a regular visual inspection and insulation test - Users should be familiar with the risks of using damaged electrical equipment and should report damage. The person doing PA testing should back this up every few years with a formal visual inspection, and class II insulation test assuming it has the class II symbol. A fixed hand dryer is unlikely to be damaged so can be done every few years - its hard wired, so needs a sparky to disconnect and reconnect, so they might as well test it along with the fixed wiring tests. Something like the caretakers drills or hoovers are getting lots of use and movement, so need more frequent formal testing - insulation testing, and earth bond if earthed as well as user inspections. Something like a server if its correctly located, on a filtered supply, of good quality, not physically accessible by many people and not run for decades is probably ok with a visual inspection. There is very little that's going to affect the safety of it over its expected lifetime, but we still should be ensuring its correctly located etc.

 

All this should be covered by PAT test training, and if specific items aren't, then you should contact the manufacturer for advice. Given how often this comes up, its probably training all IT teams should be getting so we at least know what needs to be done when we oversee it.

 

So the question isn't so much 'should it be checked' as 'how should it be checked', 'how often should it be checked' and 'who should be checking it'.

 

Apologies for the long post.

[Oaktech]

It might be on some sort of old style lighting or clock socket but it doesn't look like it. It might slide or twist off, but don't undo the black bit. But if its outside of your training/expertise, then get some advice from a pro.

 

That's just glanded and lidded into a bit of metal tube.

 

I'd be more interested in where that tube goes check with an actual sparky that it's been installed with appropriate circuit protection.

[Andrew_C]

From a practical point of view, the 'legality' and it no longer being 'PAT' dealt with above...

 

A fan requires a double pole isolator, and that flex looks like it needs fusing to 5A.

 

And it is FILTHY.

 

A job for estates or whatever you call them to deal with.

[MS2011]

If its on its own circuit with a low value breaker like 6 amps, then it might be ok. If its on a ring main, then it needs a fused spur (probably switched) as the appliance flex is rated less that the ring main wiring and the circuit breaker. It should be labelled with where the isolator is at a minimum - in case it gets knocked off the wall etc. There are probably more suitable fans that could be fitted while they are there. Basically, wherever you reduce the diameter of wires and the current carrying capacity, you need a fuse or circuit breaker.

 

I'd pass it on to the site or H&S manager and recommend they get an approved electrician in to look at it.

 

It might be on some sort of old style lighting or clock socket but it doesn't look like it. It might slide or twist off, but don't undo the black bit. But if its outside of your training/expertise, then get some advice from a pro.

 

--

 

As for what to test, its up to the organisation to do a risk assessment looking at the likelihood of damage and frequency of damage, as well as the class of equipment and built in protection like earthing. The HSE has an example table.

 

All organisations are legally responsible for buildings, infrastructure and all work equipment and making sure its safe or dealt with. Someone qualified needs to determine whether that's a user pre-use visual inspection, regular formal visual inspection, PAT test, or fixed wiring test, or specific tests for say machinery like lifts, DT equipment etc. There's also issues with things like IWBs, stage light rigs and whether they are securely fixed to walls, ceilings etc. The legalities are mostly covered by PUWER (Provision and use of work equipment regulations) and building regs.

 

Often equipment will need a combination of tests at different intervals. EG power tools probably need user inspections, PAT testing as well as specific testing from a tool expert. The PA testing would need to be done alongside (or by) someone with expertise with the tool.

 

So something like a laptop charger is probably fine with a regular visual inspection and insulation test - Users should be familiar with the risks of using damaged electrical equipment and should report damage. The person doing PA testing should back this up every few years with a formal visual inspection, and class II insulation test assuming it has the class II symbol. A fixed hand dryer is unlikely to be damaged so can be done every few years - its hard wired, so needs a sparky to disconnect and reconnect, so they might as well test it along with the fixed wiring tests. Something like the caretakers drills or hoovers are getting lots of use and movement, so need more frequent formal testing - insulation testing, and earth bond if earthed as well as user inspections. Something like a server if its correctly located, on a filtered supply, of good quality, not physically accessible by many people and not run for decades is probably ok with a visual inspection. There is very little that's going to affect the safety of it over its expected lifetime, but we still should be ensuring its correctly located etc.

 

All this should be covered by PAT test training, and if specific items aren't, then you should contact the manufacturer for advice. Given how often this comes up, its probably training all IT teams should be getting so we at least know what needs to be done when we oversee it.

 

So the question isn't so much 'should it be checked' as 'how should it be checked', 'how often should it be checked' and 'who should be checking it'.

 

Apologies for the long post.

 

Vey well explained