The Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) scheme membership is a great way to inspire confidence in prospective employers who need to be confident that their electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition.
Scheme membership is an invaluable asset in proving your proficiency to undertake combined inspection and testing of portable appliances and, if relevant to your work, Fixed Appliance Testing (FAT) such as storage heaters, cookers and hand driers. All such work must be done by someone with sufficient competence.
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Scheme Details
Geographical Scope – United Kingdom
Approval - Carried out under NAPIT's ISO9001 Quality System
Scheme Requirements
The following general conditions must be met:
Relevant Standards -
All PAT work must be carried out in accordance with the current edition of the IEE Code of Practice for in-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
Legal Requirements -
Employers and Landlords have obligations to ensure the electrical safety of systems and equipment in their properties. These are stated in the Electricity at Work Regulations and the Landlord and Tenant Act and other associated legislation. Competence is required by this legislation and the use of an independent, registered inspector is often the most suitable way of ensuring compliance.
Qualifications -
You or your employees must have a qualification (or equivalent) in inspection and testing of electrical equipment; if you or your employees also carry out fixed appliance testing (FAT) you or your employees will need a current qualification covering the wiring regulations. A fully qualified electrician registered on CPS, EAS or TPC can access PAT registration without a PAT specific qualification via a NAPIT online assessment. See the NAPIT Guide to Qualifications – Electrical
for lists of suitable qualifications which can be found on the NAPIT website.
Insurance -
You must have £2m public liability insurance and at least £250,000 professional indemnity insurance with a scope of cover that reflects the work carried out and building type involved.
Instruments -
You or your employees must have access to sufficient instruments to carry out tests relevant to your scope of work as well as in date calibration certificates for this equipment where applicable.
Inspection -
You or your employees will undergo an onsite assessment initially and every third year with an online assessment in intervening years.
Website Listing -
Once successfully registered, your business will be added to the dedicated PAT and/or FAT testing category of the NAPIT online search facility.
HOW THIS RELATES TO CPS, EAS AND TPC
If you are registered under any of the schemes demonstrating electrical competence (CPS Full Scope Electrical, EAS or TPC) you will already meet most of the criteria for the PAT scheme. You or your employees would need a valid qualification covering portable appliance testing (list 10 in the NAPIT Guide to Qualifications - Electrical). A fully qualified electrician can undergo a NAPIT online assessment as equivalent to a PAT qualification.