PAT Testing

[witch]

Recently I have been involved with sorting out some power issues - we have too many extension strips here and there and so I have been getting quotes for new power points etc.

Whilst doing this I have come across various things about PAT testing and it occurs to me that in the 7 years I have been here, it has never been done. (well, I think the site manager started it once, but he didnt get to my IT suites).

I have been looking at the regulations and it doesn't exactly state that we HAVE to PAT test, only that we have to make sure equipment is safe (and PAT testing is the obvious way, I suppose).

 

I am concerned that things have not been PAT tested, and I know that staff bring in their own stuff which of course has also never been tested.

I have been advised that this could affect the school's insurance in the case of an electrical fire - can anyone confirm this is true?

 

I really think this needs to be sorted out and I don't quite know how to go about it. If I just'tell' the head he will agree and do nothing

[glennda]

Pat testing is not a legal requirement - but is highly recommended as if somebody gets an electric shock off a piece of your equipment they can sue - if they machine has been pat tested you have taken reasonable measures to try and prevent it from happening. I cannot say about the Insurance aspect as i sure this probably varies between insurance companies.

 

Toby

[powdarrmonkey]

I have been looking at the regulations and it doesn't exactly state that we HAVE to PAT test, only that we have to make sure equipment is safe (and PAT testing is the obvious way, I suppose).

 

Appliance testing is common because it's the quickest and most economical way to demonstrate that you took reasonable care to ensure the safety of your equipment, which is what the law requires.

 

I am concerned that things have not been PAT tested, and I know that staff bring in their own stuff which of course has also never been tested.

I have been advised that this could affect the school's insurance in the case of an electrical fire - can anyone confirm this is true?

 

No - it depends on your insurer and your specific policy, and you should ask them. (Of course if somebody is killed and you (the school) are found to be negligent, no insurance policy will save you).

[Mako]

We have a company contracted by our LEA that comes in every year around Februrary half-term and PAT tests the entire school.

 

For the insurance, I'm not sure... but we don't allow any item brought in externally without it first being inspected or PAT tested in-house. If it fails, it goes out. I'm sure you could well be in a sticky situation if your building caught fire from someone bringing their microwave (for example) and it caught fire, and wasn't first approved.

 

As Toby said, it's not a legal requirement. The legal requirement is for employers (and employees) to ensure that all equipment is of a safe working state and sufficiently maintained so as to reduce, as much as is possible, the risks of injury. PAT testing is merely a means of documenting this procedure, and if something is PAT tested it can stand up as evidence that the establishment has followed Health and Safety guidelines adequately and that the appliance met the standard of good working condition.

 

PAT Testing or not, the legal H&S requirement means you should ensure that equipment is of a good state of repair. Conducting testing, whether in the capacity of a PAT tester or your obligatory role as an employee, items that need to be inspected are anything that is not permanently hardwired to the structure. In the case of computers/monitors or anything that has a detachable power lead, the chassis and lead need separate inspections. I'd highlight the above point to your headteacher and perhaps suggest getting a company in to PAT test the school for you. It could become nasty if a child gets a shock and it turns out your equipment has not been professionally documented as being safe for usage. You could attend a PAT Testing safety course and become a qualified tester for your school, but believe me it's a forsaken thing. You become inundated with testing appliances and cables.

 

I think I'm making sense. I'm sure there are qualified PAT testers on the old geek that can shed more light.

[enjay]

PAT testing "rules" are few and far between, as the potential risk of a plug varies according to what is connected to it. For example, no-one should go near the plugs on your printers or PCs, therefore a visual inspection every 5 (I think) years is sufficient, however this isn't appropriate for something like a loan-pool laptop or a kettle which gets plugged in and out all the time.

 

The trick is keeping track of how old every power cable is, as I know that sometimes when installing replacement computers I use the existing power cable. Our site team often test things as soon as they arrive in school as that way they have an accurate date of purchase, as you can't (easily) identify which kettle or vacuum cleaner is which. I now make sure that power cables follow the PCs, as I can easily give the age of a PC and therefore its power cable.

 

For the bulk of your IT equipment, a visual inspection is actually sufficient - you should record somewhere that you've carried these out, though.

[elsiegee40]

This of any use to anyone?

Elec Equip policy.doc

[Andrew_C]

For FACTS rather than inaccurate speculation, it would be worth getting a copy of the CoP. Code of Practice for Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment: Amazon.co.uk: Iee: Books

[powdarrmonkey]

PAT testing "rules" are few and far between, as the potential risk of a plug varies according to what is connected to it.

 

Actually the rules are called a "Code of Practice", and the potential risk of a plug depends on the state of repair of the appliance, not what it is.

 

 

edit: oh, actually, the electrical potential of a consumer plug in the UK doesn't vary at all, it's always 240V. That's probably not what you meant though.

Edited April 28, 2010 by powdarrmonkey

[enjay]

the potential risk of a plug depends on the state of repair of the appliance, not what it is.

 

Yes, but. A plug which is (un)plugged / a device which is moved around ten times every day is more likely to fall into a state of disrepair than one which is plugged in and then left for 3 years, therefore the type of device on the plug does matter, as those on portable devices need checking more frequently/thoroughly. Or so the course I went on said.

 

edit: oh, actually, the electrical potential of a consumer plug in the UK doesn't vary at all, it's always 240V. That's probably not what you meant though.

Very good!

[witch]

Thanks all - I will speak to the SMT with all the points you have raised

[Brpilot99]

Hey Witch ... Ive a good and reliable company that does ours ........ if you are interested drop me a message and I'll send the details

 

Cheers from Christchurch

Brian Rumsey