Pat test on cooker

[netblindpaul]

It may be good practice to try a continuity test or insulaltion tests on these items but Im curious to know whether the cooker/heater comes under the unbrella of portable aplliance testing?
I mean, some where down the line they should be checked, these pieces of current using equipment, defined as appliances.

I have a landlord mate who is questioning this. He doesn't leave items with plugs on in the flats he rents out but there may be cookers and heaters, hard wired into flex outlets and is unsure whether these pieces of equipment need the Pat test. Secondly, these are in domestic properties, so Im unsure if the PAT testing is a lawful requirement as they are not at work.

It all boils down to insurance companies who may or may not insure your house based on what is or isnt required with regards to fixed current using equipment under a portable applaince test.

There is NO STATUTORY LEGAL requirement for PAT in ANY environment.
Anyone who says there is is an idiot and does not understand the statue law in this area.
End of.

 

[IQ Electrical]

There is NO STATUTORY LEGAL requirement for PAT in ANY environment.
Anyone who says there is is an idiot and does not understand the statue law in this area.
End of.

How would you comply with The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 then?

There is no statutory legal requirement to carry out a periodic inspection on the fixed wiring installation but how else would you prove that the installation was maintained in a safe condition?

EAWR regulation 4(2) requires that "as may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as is reasonably practicable, such danger"

Also remember that the act makes no distinction between a cooker, a luminaire or a fridge!

End of.

 

[Megahertz]

Hi - the problem arises because the IEE Code of Practice refers to 'equipment' whether portable or fixed, but most people who do PAT Testing only concern themselves with 'Portable Appliances - ie things with plugs on.'

If you're an electrician, then go ahead and isolate the cooker from the supply, either fit a plug onto it so you can plug it into the tester, or do Earth Bond and IR tests with a installation tester.

I work for a PAT Testing company, and not all of our guys are qualified sparks (they don't need to be to do PAT Testing) so we would always tell our customers that we don't test fixed appliances such as cookers, wall heaters, hand dryers in toilets etc. It does cause a problem if we get a private landlord asking us to do PAT Testing, as they have about 4 or 5 portable appliances (fridge, table lamps etc) but they can't understand why we can't do the cooker as well.

 

[ian.settle1]

A cooker should still be tested. The idea that it's called portable appliance testing and a cooker is not intended to be moved during use is just a lazy play on words; swapping a plugtop for a FCU doesn't negate the need for testing.

When I worked in a local aircraft factory they tried this on the microwaves but the insurance company still wanted them testing as a portable appliance.