PAT testing ceiling fan

[ringer]

When PAT testing came across a ceiling fan with supply wiring protected by trunking, but out the end of the trunking is a short flex lead with a plug on it. They plug it in to a normal wall socket to operate the fan. I can inspect the plug and the small portion of flex outside the trunking, but cannot safely attach test lead to the fan to check earth bonding, or inspect the rest of the flex hidden inside the trunking.

Should I inform customer am unable to test?
Does this setup conform with regs?
Should I recommend that he gets the fan properly connected to the installation?

 

[Mr Mark Sparks]

recomend spur adjacent to socket to hard wire fan into

 

[Pinto Baz]

If you really can not get to the fan and do a bond test then I would treat it as an inspection only. If it is out of your reach then it is out of reach to others too and so is not likely to cause an injury. Are you even sure that it is not double insulated (Class 2). I don't see why you wouldn't be able to get the lid of the trunking and check the lead to a reasonable height but if the trunking is plastic or properly earthed metal then I guess that you could treat it as the cable sheath and just check the exposed part of the cable and plug. I wouldn't put myself at risk trying to prevent an accident that isn't likely to happen. If the fan/plug and socket are in a room containing a bath or shower then there may be other issues regarding zones, bonding and use of an rcd that you might like to take up with the owners or get someone else to take it up with them, but if you are being employed to do the pat testing then the installation is not really in your remit.

 

[Davey101]

Wouldnt think it needs testing, its not a PORTABLE appliance. Should be tested as part of a pir.

 

[ringer]

Users will (and do) put the plug in and out of the socket and switch it on and off, which indicates that it needs to be tested. I was also going by the rule of thumb 'if it has a plug on, it needs testing' and was treating it as a 'fixed' type of equipment.

Referring to the COP for frequency of tests there is no data for fixed equipment - I was going to use the data for stationary equipment. Also in the COP, the pictures for fixed equipment (section 5.5 : figure 5.7) show the leads terminating in a wall switch and not a plug. Never noticed that before!

I have done a visual check and there is no evidence of damage to the flex and the plug is wired correctly with no signs of damage or overheating. Have also done a insulation and load test. I know you should not do either of those without first establishing a good earth bond but the equipment is out of reach.

Just checked my readings again - load was measured at 45VA, current at 0.1A, leakage 0.08mA - surely 0.1A indicates a voltage of 450V! Can someone please either put me right here, or explain to me why I have these readings?

 

[acat]

0.1 is correct IMO 45VA/230v or is it to late and I should be in bed


Chris

 

[ringer]

You're right Chris - think it's me who ought to be in bed! Kind of getting confused doing the maths in my head when readings are 0.0 < 1.0
Actual value read is 0.195 but rounded down to 0.1 in the data memory
And of course, a ceiling fan rotates very slowly - hence only drawing a small current.

 

[Adam W]

I'm not a fan (excuse the pun) of supplying power to equipment like this because there can be confusion as to what it is - i wouldn't call it 'fixed equipment' because it has a plugtop on it and is not supplied by a FCU, and it isn't really portable or moveable because it is fixed to the ceiling. I wouldn't expect to find random plugs disappearing off into trunking on a new installation so I don't see why it should feature as part of an alteration.

To answer your question I would get an extension lead which has already been tested to try to get closer to the fan to test the earth continuity, then detail any limitations on the test sheet.
I would say the flex going to the fan needs to be continuous and not spliced anywhere as per COP, otherwise the splice should be taken out and connected via (fused) plug and socket.

 

[ringer]

Thanks for the suggestion Novus (and everyone else). As far as I can tell the lead is not spliced. From my investigations the device is safe IMO and have declared it 'passed'. Just needed some clarification/advice as am relatively new to electrical testing and not come across this before. I will be recommending to the customer that the fan is either removed or properly wired in to the installation.

 

[Risteard]

Wouldnt think it needs testing, its not a PORTABLE appliance. Should be tested as part of a pir.

Most of the appliances covered by the Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment are not classified as "portable appliances". Indeed, only one category of appliance is.

 

[acat]

You could of course fail it as you cannot test it properly so unsuitable location for appliance. After all would you pass a perfectly working 3 bar electric fire plugged into the hall and sitting in the bathroom.


Chris

 

[Steve D]

Most of the appliances covered by the Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment are not classified as "portable appliances". Indeed, only one category of appliance is.

Good point - unfortunately, wrongly, the name 'PAT test' has stuck, to include all equipment on a plug.

My company supplies commercial laundry equipment - some of the large gas heated dryers we supply are nearly half a tonne in weight, but they are powered via a plug. You'd hardly call this sort of equipment portable.

 

[Risteard]

Good point - unfortunately, wrongly, the name 'PAT test' has stuck, to include all equipment on a plug.

My company supplies commercial laundry equipment - some of the large gas heated dryers we supply are nearly half a tonne in weight, but they are powered via a plug. You'd hardly call this sort of equipment portable.

Indeed. And the Code of Practice also mentions appliances connected via a fused connection unit.

 

[pennywise]

Good point - unfortunately, wrongly, the name 'PAT test' has stuck, to include all equipment on a plug.

My company supplies commercial laundry equipment - some of the large gas heated dryers we supply are nearly half a tonne in weight, but they are powered via a plug. You'd hardly call this sort of equipment portable.

That would be stationary equipment maybe and i would say that the fan is deemed stationary equipment as well as it is fixed and not designed to move whilst in operation. This is just guessing not completely ofay with PAT regs.

 

[ringer]

Although I use the general rule of thumb 'if it has a plug.....' I will (do my best to) test all electrical items that are not part of the installation. That would include half-tonne dryers. Not yet come across anything hard wired into a fused spur, but will check it too as/when I do. When you are doing a PIR, how far along the spur do you go? My guess is only up to the fuse. A PIR will cover the installation, PAT testing everything else that is connected to the installation. The point is that we are checking the safe use of electricity in the workplace.