Understanding PAT Testing: What Every Business Needs to Know

What PAT testing actually is

Portable Appliance Testing is a combination of visual inspection and electrical testing carried out on portable electrical equipment: anything with a plug, essentially. It checks that cables, casings, earth continuity and insulation are all within safe limits, catching faults that aren't visible just by looking at a plug or switching something on.

Why it's not optional in practice

There's no single law that names "PAT testing" directly, but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 place a duty on anyone responsible for a workplace to keep electrical equipment in a safe condition. PAT testing is simply the standard, insurer-recognised way of evidencing that duty, which is why it's frequently written directly into employers' and public liability insurance conditions.

What gets tested, and how

Every item gets a visual check first: plug, cable, strain relief, casing. Then, depending on the appliance class, an electrical test follows: earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity, and a functional check where relevant. Anything that fails is tagged and flagged on the spot, so you know straightaway rather than waiting on the written report.

Getting started

If you've never had a formal PAT testing programme, the starting point is simple: an asset count and a site visit. From there we can set a sensible, risk-based retest schedule rather than a one-size-fits-all interval. See our full PAT testing guide for frequency guidance by equipment type.