PAT Advice

[elementps]

Hi Guys,

I am looking into doing some PAT testing, as im becoming aware the money isnt generally that great but think its a good add-on to be able to offer people.

I havent actually done my course or got tester yet, just putting the feelers out there to see if it will actually be worth while before a start spending the pennies.

Im thinking of trying to gat a few contracts set-up and subbing them out to someone until I get myself up and running, opinions on this???

My question is, in a realistic world how many items can you test in a day?

Do the majority of you test per item or on a day rate?

Many Thanks

 

[malcolmsanford]

Hi Guys,

I am looking into doing some PAT testing, as im becoming aware the money isnt generally that great but think its a good add-on to be able to offer people.

I havent actually done my course or got tester yet, just putting the feelers out there to see if it will actually be worth while before a start spending the pennies.

Im thinking of trying to gat a few contracts set-up and subbing them out to someone until I get myself up and running, opinions on this???
​Are you that busy you need to sub it out, because if you are that busy don't bother with PAT. If your an electrical contractor then PAT testing should not hold much horrors for you get the Code of Practice and small hand unit for now and off you go. Make sure though that your insurance covers you for this

My question is, in a realistic world how many items can you test in a day?
How long is a piece of string? If all the units are in a nice room ready for you to test, are all class II then you could get through a fair amount, but that is rare mostly you'll be crawling under desks, trying to find appliances etc etc.

Do the majority of you test per item or on a day rate?
Per item really. Not costed a test schedule in the UK for ages now, but say 50 pound for the first 50 items and go from there, One of the other PAT lads will give you a more accurate costing I'm sure

Many Thanks

Hope that helps

 

[elementps]

If your an electrical contractor then PAT testing should not hold much horrors for you get the Code of Practice and small hand unit for now and off you go. Make sure though that your insurance covers you for this


Is there no requirement to have c&g 2377 then?

 

[Sparky Ninja]

Depends on your other training TBH.

2377 is there as a proof of technical competence, however any Joe Bloggs can obtain it and then be considered 'competent' right away.

Proof is in the pudding though. I don't do PAT on a large scale because I do it properly. The conclusion therefore is that I'm always going to be too expensive.
I only carry out PAT now to fulfil requirements of existing clientèle.

 

[malcolmsanford]

Like all electrical work you need to be competent, and proof of that competence would be the C & G 2377 but it is not law that you must have it. It is advisable to take it, but you can still do testing without it.

Put it this way if you are a fully qualified electrician then not having the 2377 will not be a stumbling block.

 

[RWJ]

We do PAT testing... We normally send out the labourer who's 2377 qualified.
It just doesn't pay enough any more to send out a fully qualified spark.

You'll probably find yourself getting under cut by people that "have done the CD" or a 3 hour course at a hotel... (I've never even seen these courses advertised but I've spoken to 10+ PAT testers that have allegedly done them)
Some of those guys are currently charging 50p Per item and aren't VAT registered therefore we'd have to charge 42p which isn't viable in anyones book.

 

[elementps]

You'll probably find yourself getting under cut by people that "have done the CD" or a 3 hour course at a hotel... (I've never even seen these courses advertised but I've spoken to 10+ PAT testers that have allegedly done them)
Some of those guys are currently charging 50p Per item and aren't VAT registered therefore we'd have to charge 42p which isn't viable in anyones book.

This is what im trying to get away from and want to offer a 'proper' service, do you think there is a market for this, or are people just wanting it done as cheap as possible?

In reference to eatrlier reply about how many can be done in a day, i appreciate it all depends on how accesible items are, but could someone give me an average scenariop and qty as I want to work out income etc?

Thanks for all your help so far.

 

[Adam W]

Like you say, it's a good thing to be able to offer existing clients as an extra, to offer a more 'complete' service, but not worth going out and chasing where you have to compete on price. If you work this way you can charge a reasonable price to cover your costs.
Similarly the customer might be expecting you or one of your employees to be carrying out the work and not subbing it out to a 'sticker-slapper'.

You could probably expect to do roughly 10 - 12 items an hour. That's a very rough average estimate - if you're just doing a box of IEC leads or phone chargers you'll be able to do much more, if you've got to move 4 desks out of the way to open up a floorbox for one extension lead, much less.

 

[RWJ]

This is what im trying to get away from and want to offer a 'proper' service, do you think there is a market for this, or are people just wanting it done as cheap as possible?

No there is a market out there for a "proper" service... It's the market we cater for....
but an awful lot of business either don't understand or don't really care and want it done as cheap as possible.
They can't see the point of paying double "coz if anything happens it'll be on the PAT testers shoulders not ours"

 

[Octopus]

If I were you I'd google local suppliers and see what they are charging, most people indicate costs on their websites.

FYI, I'm with Widdler on this, I don't push PAT testing as its tedious and as others have stated very competitive.

You and only you know what you'll like to earn but don't forget that you'll need to allocate time to produce the necessary reports to provide to your clients.

 

[big willie]

How do you pat test fixed appliances without disconnecting from the fused spur

 

[Sparky Ninja]

How do you pat test fixed appliances without disconnecting from the fused spur

Carry out continuity tests and insulation tests with an installation tester.
If you don't have an installation tester then you could consider a temporary plug top configuration.
If you are not an electrician and are testing fixed equipment you need to make sure you can prove competence in isolating fixed installations.

 

[Silly Sausage]

How do you pat test fixed appliances without disconnecting from the fused spur

If you're not going to take the FCU face plate off, you can do an earth continuity test on a class 1 item, by testing between one of the FCU fixing screws and exposed metal on the item.