How often should PAT Testing be done?

PAT testing is widely accepted as the most effective, preventative maintenance measure to comply with legal obligations and ensure electrical equipment is safe to use.

One of the more common questions is regarding the frequency of PAT testing to maintain compliance and safety standards, without testing demands on employers and landlords.

PAT testing – how often should it be carried out?

The requirements are that testing should be performed ‘regularly’, but there are no set rules or guidelines determining what qualifies as regular, or specifying how often PAT testing should be carried out due to different environments and different types of equipment.

A general rule of thumb is that PAT testing should be carried out every 2 years. Certain factors however should be considered to determine the frequency of testing.

• Location of the equipment
• Equipment type
• Frequency of use
• Competence of users
• The installation method
• Testing and maintenance records
• Whether the equipment is on hire