Uncategorized Archives - Pat Testing Edinburgh

15/07/202504/08/2025

PAT Failure

Below is a clear example of a PAT Failure where the equipment has no basic fuse protection. This is an image of a cooker hood extractor fan with the canopy removed. As you can see hood supply cable (white) is directly connected main circuit supply cable (grey)

Image of cooker extractor fan hood faulty wiring — PAT Failure

PAT Failure Rectified

Below is a clear example on how to rectify this type of equipment with the correct fuse protection. This is an image of a cooker hood extractor fan with the canopy removed. As you can see a single socket has been fitted with a 5 amp fuse fitted

Image of a cooker extractor fan hood with rectified wiring — PAT Failure Rectified

FAQ

Why did the cooker hood fail.

all electrical equipment has to have the correct fuse fitted as per its rating. In addition the 5 amp rated hood was protected by a 32 amp kitchen power circuit.

What if the correct fuse protection is not fitted.

Equipment testing and inspection is to ensure safety in a fault or overload protection situation. This it could cause an electrical fire in a fault condition.

What if I just ignore a PAT failure.

As a matter of fact you cannot ignore this as you have a legal obligation to ensure the electrical safety of any equipment you provide. You’re landlords insurance will be compromised by not rectifying any defects.

Why fit a socket behind the cooker hood extractor fan canopy

For example the same as the sockets in your kitchen where they are supplied by a 32 amp ring circuit. Any equipment plugged in is fused. The 5 amp rated hood is now protected by a 5 amp plug top fuse.

AEW X PAT FEED

14/06/202515/06/2025

Fire Inspections on Fixed Appliances

Fire Inspections

Fire inspections are now highlighting and checking that fixed electrical equipment have been tested for electrical safety.

Fixed appliance wall heater — Wall Heater

The manager of a building said she had problems getting a company to test a fixed appliance convector wall heater. Below is the following exchange on why.

Frequently Asked Questions

So, why are ‘PAT’ Companies reluctant to test hard wired electrical equipment.

Basically the majority of these companies employees are not electrically qualified. As they are not trained to open the wall switch disconnect the appliance and test it.

I have seen some of this equipment with a test label on them

Always check your documentation. If you read ‘Visual Inspection Only’ then you are paying the company just to put a sticker on the appliance.

So, that’s ok then

In a word No the fire inspector/officer I suspect will not accept this. All fixed appliances need to be tested for electrical safety

How do I tell the difference

Easy enough if the appliance has a plug top on it then it can be classed as a portable appliance. If it is hard wired into a wall switch then it can be classed as a fixed appliance

What’s the best way to manage this

Well you could depending on the amount of electrical equipment organise 2 different tests . So, in a small business with say 75 portable appliances and 10 fixed appliances. You may want to have 2 separate contracts.
If you are a landlord then find a business who can test both on the same visit.

Insurance and Compliance

Will my insurance company accept a ‘Visual Inspection Only’ status

The whole idea of electrical appliance testing is to ensure a safe environment for staff and tenants. Remember insurance is about risk so, not confirming the appliance has been electrically tested may be an issue.

So, how do I make sure my property complies.

Basically you are obliged to get both portable and fixed electrical appliances are tested for safety.

I have been told that fixed appliances should be tested the same time as an EICR.

Fixed equipment comes under Electrical Appliance Testing aka ‘PAT Testing’. Where you can risk assess that they be tested every 12, 18 or 24 month intervals. So, testing them every 5 years would not be prudent.

For more information on fixed appliance testing

27/08/202425/03/2025

Small Business

I am aware that small business have issues with contractor access and parking as they try to get their electrical equipment tested to ensure good safety for themselves and staff.

So AEW realises that a mobile PAT testing service using public transport negates the problem of contractors who cannot get parked in the area.

First of all what is PAT Testing and why do it. ?

Check this short video explanation of why the term “PAT” is used when it is actually call In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

Video

Image of a UK PAT tester for pat testing intervals — pat tester

Types of issues for small business

The need to get electrical equipment tested to ensure good electrical safety for staff and visitors.
Small business requirements is that these tests be completed to comply with the Health & Safety requirements .
Proper documentation for a good audit trail.

Documentation example

How to complete a pat asset register of electrical equipment

check lists for small business — Checklist

Why do I need to do this.?

It’s good practise and helps with audit trails to list and itemise the electrical equipment the business is responsible for.

How do I identify these items.?

Basically any electrical equipment the the business owns or rents.

What about staff personal equipment. ?

Basically the business is responsible for the equipment they own or rent. So, staff equipment should be limited to say a phone charger. Although today the majority of phone charging is via a USB lead. So, it is good practise to encourage staff to do this.

How doe we spot dangerous phone chargers.?

it is also good practise not to leave phone chargers plugged in and switched on overnight. See video below.

Blank Asset Form

Phone Charger video

21/08/202428/02/2025

Asset Register

How to create an Asset Register

You may ask why do this and what does it achieve . This is basically an audit trail document. This itemises the equipment you are responsible for and proves to any authority that you are managing the testing of your electrical appliances.

Asset Register Example

Creating an asset register can do the following

It helps as an audit trail.
It demonstrates that you are a responsible owner.
It documents the equipment for any possible insurance claim.
It costs nothing to put together.

Repair register

A repair register proves you are getting your equipment checked and more importantly demonstrates that any future issue are dealt with.

Fault register

Audit wise a fault register demonstrates that you recognise that this needs to be recorded.

Do I have to get a replacement appliance tested.

Simple answer is if it is brand new and under warranty then no. Plus keep the receipt as proof of purchase.

Does it matter if I don’t have an asset register.

If there is any issues or inquiries from a local authority or an insurance company you have comprehensive audit document.

Do I have to test my tenants personal electrical equipment.

Simple answer is no

Image of pat cop manual — pat code of practise

30/07/202423/04/2025

PAT Testing Intervals

PAT testing intervals in the Code of Practise of the 5th edition states “There is no specified timescales in law, or in the CoP of Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment. Formally PAT testing.

The Housing Act (Scotland) 2006, 2014

With regards to private rentals in the Act a Landlord in a tenancy must ensure that the rented property meets the “repairing standard ” at

The start of the tenancy
All times during the tenancy , where the the landlord is made aware of possible defects

Types of rentals

Listed below is the types of rentals and the requirement of PAT testing intervals.

Short Term Lets

The City of Edinburgh Council requires an annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate. For more information click below for CEC website requirements.

CEC STL Info

Houses of Multiple Occupation

The City of Edinburgh Council requires an annual Portable Appliance Test (PAT) certificate. For more information click below for CEC website requirements.

CEC HMO Info

General Rental Properties

In this case the landlord can risk assess the PAT Testing interval. So, with long term tenants where the property is in good condition the landlord could schedule the testing for every 18 to 24 months. However if there is a steady turnover of tenants then it may be prudent to test annually.

Good Practise

It is good practise to register any electrical equipment with the manufacturer in case of any safety recalls. So, it helps if the landlord stores in a folder the equipment make, model & serial number in case of any recalls. You can also check the electrical safety first website below for any equipment that has been recalled.

Electrical Equipment Recall Register

05/10/202323/04/2025

Fixed Appliance Testing

Image of a storage heater — Storage heater

Getting inquiries about clarification on Fixed Appliance Testing and why does it matter. Landlords and letting agents are asking why this has to be done and how does affect PAT testing.

Image of wall convector heater — Wall heater

First of all is the terminology of Portable Appliance Testing. Although it is commonly known as PAT testing it is actually under the 5^th edition of the Code of Practise of In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do we need to test Fixed Appliances

In a rented property it was found that the electrical installation is tested via an Electrical Condition Report EICR . With Portable Appliances or PAT testing it was found Fixed appliances were being missed out and not getting checked.

So, How does fixed appliance come under Portable Appliance Testing

Although we still use the terminology of PAT Testing it is actually under the In Service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment or ISITEE CoP 5th edition that now includes fixed appliances.

See the video below for clarification on the term PAT Testing

So, what is classed as a fixed appliance

Cooker / Electric oven
Electric & Gas hobs
Storage & Wall heaters
Basically any electrical equipment hard wired into the electrical installation

Do I need to get these checked

Basically Yes . Testing fixed appliances completes the circle of electrical equipment testing for a rented property.

Do I have to test fixed equipment at the same time as portable equipment

Initially it makes good sense to test both at the same time but if you have a good long term tenant then you may decide to test the portable equipment annually and the fixed electrical equipment bi-annually.

Can as a landlord letting agent just ignore this and stick to portable appliances

Basically No. You are obliged to get this equipment tested.

Why test a fixed appliance

Electrical equipment testing essentially is completed to ensure that if it develops a fault then the unit will trip a fuse / breaker or RCD via an earth or overload fault. So, let’s take the example of say an electric oven. If it develops a fault where the unit trips a fuse or breaker. But if the oven does not have a good earth connection then the metal casing could become live. So, testing it ensures any fault has a safe path to earth.

My PAT tester has now put “Visual only” on the fixed equipment

As previously highlighted ” PAT Testers ” are not qualified to test fixed equipment like ovens and storage heaters so, they put “Visual only”. Basically they are saying we will register it but not test it.

Clarification of the term PAT testing video