PAT Testing Training Update

[MarkBarl]

I am responsible for doing the PAT testing in my workplace and undertook training under the 2nd edition IEE code of practice. I see that in the 3rd edition it has clarified the issue of equipment connected to a flex outlet such as a FCU. I had always interpreted these as being part of the fixed installation but now they are classing these as requiring testing under the portable appliance testing. My question is what training would I have to do to prove competency to disconnect them from the FCU to test them? I know that you need to isolate the supply at the distribution board before disconnecting etc but I don't have a piece of paper that proves that I know this.

 

[Spark123]

I haven't read that document yet so I'll have to take your word on it, officially the IEE cop isn't a statutory document. The legal documents are things like HASWA, EAWR, PUWER etc. The EAWR requires systems to be maintained to prevent danger or injury, PAT testing is only one method of doing this.
If your company choses to do the PAT testing of fixed equipment it is a bit of a minefield! You need to be able to isolate, secure and correctly test the isolation before doing any intrusive work on the installation. Also ensuring the appliance is correctly connected before it is re-energized. Another option might be in some instances to have the FCU replaced with a plug socket arrangement.
Have you contacted your employer and see if they can arrange a course which covers isolations?

 

[ericmark]

In service electrical equipment has always included items like hand driers but the old inspection and testing of in-service electrical equipment separated these out and a:-
Portable appliance
An appliance of less than 18 kg in mass that is intended to be moved while in operation or an appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, food mixer. vacuum cleaner, fan heater.

But also listed Movable equipment, Hand-held appliances or equipment, Stationary equipment or appliances, Fixed equipment/appliances, Appliances/equipment for building in, and Information technology equipment (business equipment) plus special section on extension leads.

I have not read the new book but there has always been a problem as to what should be tested and by whom.

For example a cold drinks machine is often on hire and the on site electricians do not have a key and have no idea what is inside the machine and it would be crazy for them to try to test this machine it is under a maintenance contract and the only thing a site electrician may do is give it a visual inspection.

However the hand dryer is likely owned my the company and it will need maintaining in a safe condition and just because it is hard wired into a FCU does and never has meant it should not be tested.
It is of course likely this will only be tested every 2 years as classed as stationary equipment. In the old book there was a chart called TABLE 1 - SUGGESTED INITIAL FREQUENCY OF INSPECTION AND TESTING OF EQUIPMENT which gave the period between tests.

So what has changed?

Where I worked we took the attitude that PAT testing was far easier than stripping off covers and using mega etc to test.

So if we could plug it in and test it with a PAT tester then it was. On walking into a room fridges and freezers would be unplugged so they could warm up enough to run when tested and all other items would be tested first and normally they would run when tested.

But the dish washer was another story and after talking to the manager it was decided best option was to take out maintenance contract.

Our bottling plant it was decided was continually maintained and as long as we logged all faults and repairs did not require anything over and above to 2 monthly service.

As you can see all electrical items we assessed and the Equipment register would have a note against every item to say how it was to be maintained.

Biggest problem was disposal as people would dispose of old equipment without informing the maintenance department we got around this by issuing an email (All health and safety stuff has to be in writing) The email would simply say the follow equipment could not be found please bring to plant department before use.

Lets face it the whole exercise is a watch my back exercise and of course it is also used as a leaver. Departments who did not play ball could expect their radio to fail the PAT test! Or if really bad get the radio would be flash tested!

 

[Grizzly]

The EAWR requires systems to be maintained to prevent danger or injury, PAT testing is only one method of doing this.

This always intrigues me.
Many people say that 'PAT' is only one method of achieving compliance, but fail to elaborate on what these supposed other methods may entail.

Would another method of compliance actually be (at a fundamental level) different from 'PAT', as surely any method would need to include such things as visual inspection, earth bond resistance test (for Class I), insulation resistance test, etc.

I think it's quite telling that the IEE CoP only mentions the terms 'PAT tester' and 'Portable Appliance Tester' in relation to the test instruments with those names, rather than any testing procedure it covers.

 

[ericmark]

I would think most people consider PAT testing as the tests completed with out dismantling the equipment with a purpose built tester.

Other methods would normally involve some dismantling to be able to use insulation and continuity meters. And may include preventive maintenance like testing no terminals have worked lose.

If you are doing preventive maintenance often PAT testing would not also be done on same appliance.

One must remember a concrete batching plant may be transportable, may be multi wagon loads, but when the rules are written one has to include all and although one may test parts of a batching plant with a PAT tester most of it will require specialist knowledge.

 

[Pensdown]

The EAWR requires systems to be maintained to prevent danger or injury, PAT testing is only one method of doing this.

This always intrigues me.
Many people say that 'PAT' is only one method of achieving compliance, but fail to elaborate on what these supposed other methods may entail..

Firstly, it's nice to see someone using the term PAT correctly. The term PAT testing = Portable Appliance Testing Testing.

Would another method of compliance actually be (at a fundamental level) different from 'PAT', as surely any method would need to include such things as visual inspection, earth bond resistance test (for Class I), insulation resistance test, etc.

First of all, as far as I'm aware, within the Legal documents there is no reference to, or definition for a Portable Appliance. The term only appears in the IEE CoP for In-Service Inspections and Testing Of Electrical Equipment.

As Spark123 has pointed out, there are at least four sets of regulations that cover employers duties with respect to work equipment but the EAW Regulations are most commonly quoted as the reason for PAT.

The EAW Regulation 4(2) state: As maybe necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, as far as reasonably practical, such danger.

Regulation 2(1) - System means an electrical system in which all electrical equipment is, or maybe, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment.

Electrical equipment includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy.

So to comply with Regulation 4(2) an employer may need to have a maintenance regime in place for their Systems which would include their Electrical Equipment.

That maintenance regime would be based on a risk assessment for each system and piece of equipment.

So as an example, what maintenance, if any would be required on a general office PC to prevent danger?

Well for a start, if the PC cable is fed from a floor box and the cable does not run through the lid cutout correctly, the cable could get damaged or cut through if someone stands on the lid.
Part of the documented maintenance regime would be to check the cables are dressed out of the floor box correctly. A visual check of the power leads should also be done and if there are signs of damage it could be tested or just replaced.

If the power leads are under peoples feet they could also get damaged so good house keeping should be adopted to prevent this.

IMO this is all that is required for PC’s to prevent danger. I know some people will argue about testing the earth connections but in reality the chances of a PC case becoming live are insignificant. Nearly all are fed via power leads with moulded plugs on each end and in normal use; the chances of the earth becoming disconnected within the PC are almost zero.

The strange this is, most of the high risk appliances are used in the home and not in the office. Take hairdryers, curling tongs, irons and other hand held mains appliances. The cables are always failing due the movement and when they do the spark is right under the user’s wrist.

Anyway, I think the person who introduced the word PAT has now introduced the term “Fixed Wire Testing”…we shall see.