Portable Appliance Testing

Commercial Premises

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Requirements of Testing

All portable appliances used at commercial premises by the owners, tenants or by contractors should be regularly tested by a competent person (combined inspection and test), and all such work undertaken at intervals as noted below to ensure they are maintained in good order and remain safe for a further period of use.

Each appliance should be suitably marked to record the examination date or display the date for re-testing. (This is to include any of the "staff's" personal items of equipment used upon the premises.)

An intermediate visual inspection of all portable equipment should be undertaken (formal visual inspection), which is to include a formal check of the plug, fuse, connections, cable and sheathing and the body or "cabinet" of the equipment.

User checks should be carried out at intervals as noted. These will include a check of the plug, fuse, connections, cable and sheathing and the body or "cabinet" of the equipment, and a consideration of whether the equipment is operating correctly or not.

Damaged or dangerous equipment must not be allowed to remain in service and must be repaired by a qualified electrician as necessary, or if of special manufacture. Alternatively, the item must be replaced.

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Equipment Types

The following types of equipment need to be tested as "Portable Appliances":

Portable Appliance (P)

An appliance that is intended to be moved while in operation or an appliance which can be easily moved from one place to another while connected to the supply, e.g., toaster, food mixer, vacuum cleaner.

Movable Equipment (M)

This is equipment which is either 18 kg or less in mass and not fixed, e.g., electric fire, or equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use.

Hand-held Appliances or Equipment (H)

This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, e.g. hair dryer, drill, soldering iron, kettle.

Stationary Equipment or Appliances (S)

This equipment has a mass exceeding 18 kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator, washing machine.

Information Technology Equipment (IT)

Electrical business equipment such as computers and mains powered telecommunications equipment, and other equipment for general business use, such as mail processing machines, VDUs, typewriters, telephones, printers etc.

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Suggested Initial Frequency of Inspection & Testing of Equipment

Type of Equipment	User Checks (Note 1)	Class I	-	Class II	(Note 3)
-	-	Formal Visual Inspection (Note 2)	Combined Inspection and Testing (Note 4)	Formal Visual Inspection (Note 2)	Combined Inspection and Testing (Note 4)
S	None	24 Months	48 Months	24 Months	None
IT	None	24 Months	48 Months	24 Months	None
M	Weekly	12 Months	24 Months	24 Months	None
P	Weekly	12 Months	24 Months	24 Months	None
H	Before use	6 Months	12 Months	6 Months	None

Note 1: User checks are not recorded unless a fault is found.

Note 2: The formal inspection may form part of the combined inspection and tests when they coincide, and must be recorded.

Note 3: If class of equipment is not known, it must be tested as Class I.

Note 4: The results of combined inspections and tests are recorded.

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Contact Information

Telephone

+44 (0)1480 471733

FAX

+44 (0)1480 393955

Postal address

1 Avenue Road, St Neots, Cambs. UK. PE19 1LJ

Copyright © 2009 Graeme E Gaskell Services
Last modified: 6 October 2009