Clear guidance on inspection regimes, evolving terminology and practical considerations is helping wholesalers and contractors navigate electrical equipment safety with confidence, says Steve Dunning, Managing Director at Martindale Electric.

Electrical equipment safety remains a fundamental responsibility across every workplace. Yet confusion still exists around what needs to be tested, how often, and even what the process should be called. While Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is a familiar term, the introduction of Electrical Equipment Testing (EET) reflects a broader, more accurate understanding of today’s requirements.

At its core, the requirement is straightforward. Under the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), any electrical equipment that could cause injury must be maintained in a safe condition. PAT emerged as an established method of meeting this duty, focusing on the inspection and testing of portable electrical appliances to ensure they are safe for continued use.

However, the industry’s shift towards the term Electrical Equipment Testing is more than just a rebrand. Introduced in the fifth edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, the updated terminology addresses a long-standing misconception that only smaller, movable items require testing. In reality, the scope extends far beyond traditional ‘portable’ devices.

EET better reflects the full range of equipment that must be considered, including a wider variety of mains powered appliances and equipment. This could encompass anything from laptops and kettles through to vending machines, refrigeration units and even larger industrial equipment. While PAT remains widely used in conversation and training, understanding EET ensures that no equipment category is overlooked.

Frequency 

One of the most common questions surrounding PAT or EET testing is how often it should be carried out. Unlike some regulatory requirements, there is no universal testing interval defined in law. Instead, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) recommends a risk based approach, often interpreted in practice as annual testing, but this is only a guideline.

The appropriate frequency depends heavily on both the type of equipment and the environment in which it is used. For example, a power tool operating on a construction site is subject to significantly greater wear and risk than a desk lamp in a hotel room. As such, it requires more frequent inspection and testing.

This flexibility can make compliance feel ambiguous for employers. While PAT or EET testing itself is not explicitly mandated, the legal obligation to maintain safe equipment is absolute. In practical terms, regular inspection and testing provide a recognised and defensible way to demonstrate compliance with both the Electricity at Work Regulations and the Health and Safety at Work Act (1974).

For contractors advising clients, or for wholesalers supporting those contractors, this distinction is important. The conversation should not centre on whether testing is legally required, but rather how businesses can evidence that they are meeting their duty of care.

Equipment selection

In most commercial and industrial environments, such as offices, hotels, factories and public buildings, testing is typically carried out on site. This may be undertaken by an in-house maintenance team, but more commonly is delivered by specialist contractors.

For those carrying out testing, the choice of equipment is critical. Portability and ease of use are key considerations, particularly for engineers working across multiple locations throughout the day. Lightweight, handheld testers that are simple to operate help improve efficiency while reducing user fatigue.

Modern units, such as Martindale’s HPAT550 and HPAT650, are designed with these needs in mind. Features like USB-C charging support extended use in the field, while intuitive interfaces help streamline the testing process, particularly for less experienced operatives.

Beyond the tester itself, record keeping is another essential element of any PAT/EET regime. This can range from traditional handwritten logbooks through to fully digital, cloud based systems. Regardless of the method, maintaining accurate records is vital, not only for operational tracking but also for demonstrating compliance during audits or inspections.

Labelling also plays a key role. After testing, equipment is typically marked with a clear pass or fail indicator, providing immediate visual confirmation of its status. For wholesalers, this creates an opportunity to supply complementary products such as labels, logbooks and bundled kits. Solutions like the Martindale PATKIT1 PAT Accessory KIT, which include 1,000 pass labels, 200 fail labels, IEC adaptors and logbook, offers a convenient way to support both new and existing users.

Compliance

A persistent misconception within the industry is that PAT testing is a legal requirement in its own right. In reality, legislation focuses on outcomes rather than processes. Employers must ensure equipment is safe; PAT/EET is simply one of the most widely accepted ways of achieving this.

This distinction matters because it reinforces the importance of a tailored, risk-based approach. High-risk environments, such as construction sites or manufacturing facilities, will naturally require more frequent and rigorous testing regimes than lower-risk settings like offices.

For contractors, this means applying professional judgement rather than relying on fixed intervals. For wholesalers, it means understanding the nuances of different applications so they can recommend appropriate solutions and equipment.

Ultimately, whether it is referred to as PAT or EET, the underlying objective remains unchanged: ensuring that electrical equipment is safe to use. The updated terminology simply brings greater clarity to the scope of what should be included.

Regular inspection and testing, supported by appropriate equipment and robust record keeping, not only helps organisations meet their legal obligations but also reduces the risk of accidents and downtime. From contractors on site to wholesalers at the point of supply, having a clear understanding of both the terminology and the practical requirements is essential. By doing so, they can provide informed guidance, support compliance, and contribute to safer working environments across every sector.

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Steve Dunning, Managing Director of Martindale Electric, looks at Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) and why it’s important wholesaler customers get it right.

Every year, a significant number of electrical accidents, many involving portable appliances, are reported to the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK. This statistic underscores the critical importance of Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) in maintaining workplace safety.

Under the Electricity at Work Regulations (1989), any electrical equipment with the potential to cause injury must be kept in a safe condition. Additionally, the Fifth Edition of the IET Code of Practice, while advocating for risk assessments to minimise unnecessary testing, still mandates that PAT be conducted by a competent person. This requirement ensures the highest standards of electrical safety are maintained, which is vital for wholesalers to convey to their customers.

Understanding the broad spectrum of devices that fall under PAT regulations is crucial. Portable appliances include anything that uses a flexible cable or plug and socket, encompassing a wide range of equipment from hand-held tools to fixed appliances like kettles and hairdryers in commercial settings. Testing these types of appliances for safety is essential in preventing accidents and ensuring compliance with safety regulations.

Wholesalers can play a pivotal role in promoting electrical safety through the products they supply and the knowledge they can impart at the trade counter. The selection of PAT testing equipment is a significant decision, and the Martindale HPAT Series, for example, is easy to use, efficient and represents the latest in portable testing technology. These devices, designed for testing on-site, are essential tools for upholding safety standards in various operational environments.

Along with user-friendly PAT equipment, Martindale also provides wholesalers and their customers with plenty of insights and information to help them carry out testing to the required level. Even if your customers are experienced users of portable appliance testers, they still might end up making one of these common mistakes, including:

1. Not doing a visual inspection

Any signs of damage and dents/scratches on the casing should be reported. If the cable shows signs of wear or is not plugged in properly, this should also be recorded, as it could indicate that the appliance is unsafe.

2. Not doing the tests in the required order

If you do the insulation test first on a Class 1 appliance, you don’t know if the conductive earth path is good. (In Class 1 appliances, most PATs use the earth wire as the return signal path, so you don’t need a probe for the insulation test.)  If the earth path isn’t tested and proven good, you can’t rely on the insulation test

3. Forgetting to switch the appliance on

Think about the situation where the live wire is broken inside the appliance and touching the outer casing. When you do the insulation test, everything inside the appliance should be at 250V/500V. The tester detects any voltage escaping to the appliance housing. But if you haven’t switched it on, the voltage can’t get through the live wire, nothing will escape, and you could have an incorrect pass on a dangerous appliance.

4. Touching the appliance

The truth is most appliances pass the insulation test, so you get into the habit of holding drills, etc., to make it easier to hold the probe in contact. Then, one day, the appliance insulation fails, and… you get a shock, which is not dangerous in itself but could cause a reaction resulting in harm.

5. Only doing one earth bond test

Many of the most experienced testers fall for this. If an appliance has multiple, apparently isolated outer parts with separate earthed paths, each must be measured separately.

6. Taking an average reading

If you have multiple earth paths, don’t take the average reading – it’s the worst case that matters.

7. Trying to do an earth bond test on a Class II appliance

It will, of course, fail, as Class II appliances have no earth. This is a very common problem and causes a large number of calls to technical helplines.

8. Only doing one insulation test

For the same reason in 5 above, this is a common fault. At how many places on a power tool could the insulation break down? Obviously, at the chuck, but what about the ventilation slots, the trigger, the assembly screws, and the speed control? The best solution is to wrap the device in kitchen foil and test it once on the foil (you can buy special conductive bags, but foil is cheaper).

9. Not checking the fuse is conducting (see point 3 above)

You don’t have to do a separate fuse test – the operation test will prove that the appliance is both on and the fuse is okay.

10. Failing to do a function test (powering it up)

Some entry-level PATs don’t have the ability to power up the appliance. Plug the appliance into the wall socket (after PAT testing) and make sure it works properly.

11. Not testing at the correct voltage

It is very common for people to make the mistake of performing a 500V test on surge protection extension leads. These require a lower voltage 250V test. This is especially helpful when testing appliances with surge-protected circuits, such as sensitive IT equipment, at 250V.

12. Not calculating the correct pass level

Many appliances are plugged into longer power cables than those specified by the manufacturer. The current pass level for an appliance with a longer power cable is calculated differently than the pass level for an appliance with a shorter power cable. This can be determined by a calculation available in the PAT code of practice.

Getting PAT right is crucially important and electrical wholesaler trade counter staff and their customers can find more useful information and downloads at the Martindale website, visit here

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