PAT testing fixed appliances?

[Bazza Sparks]

Hi, new to the forum. I too was trying to see what people do regarding fixed appliances. Seems some do & some dont. I also am pleased to see that many of you say its impossible to do hundreds of items a day if its being done correctly. I just did a job of 173 items in a hotel kind of enviroment. It took 3.5 days, although this incuded a lot of remedials and re testing. I would be interested to know what tests people normally carry out. I do visual, earth bond (if required) insulation and leakage. Also one dilema Ive come accross a couple of times recently, heavy items namely beer fridges that are pluged into a socket which cannot be accessed without emptying the fridge and pulling it out from under the worktop. I also had a large coffee machine this week as well. Because emergency isolation cant be performed should the fridge (or other heavy item ) fail because of location? Your comments please.

 

[Silly Sausage]

With the beer fridge, I'd book myself into the nearest hotel, then return to the place of work and systematically empty that the said piece of equipment of its contents. All booked to the job of course!

You could prove earth continuity,of sorts in this case, by taking a measurement off the fridge casing and the nearest available earth.

 

[hazelm]

Unless i'm missing the obvious, the company has serveral choices:

v Find the time to set up a testing regime and conduct it in-house
v Engage the services of a contractor
v Ignore it and hope for the best
v Consider employing someone part time to work through the backlog and get the t&i up to date.

I'm the one doing the tests inhouse - but, if the company arranged for someone to do the visual formal tests, I would not have to do the combined tests!

Now up to 4,300 and on track on the railway.

Point me to a better way!!!!!!!!!............. Signals time for breakfast!

 

[Bazza Sparks]

You could prove earth continuity,of sorts in this case, by taking a measurement off the fridge casing and the nearest available earth

Read more: http://www.electriciansforums.net/p...testing-fixed-appliances-6.html#ixzz2J4s1zeGU

Yes I can get a reading that way but my point was, when I did my City & Guilds testing course we were told you can fail an item just because its in an unsuitable location. (the example given was a portable stereo in a bay where a pressure washer is regulary used). When you carry out a periodoc inspection ofthe installation (which I appreciate isnt taught in PAT testing) part of the test sheet relates to adequte access to switchgear. So if youve got a chuffin great appliance which is blocking all access to the socket its plugged into unless you move it then surely its in an usuitable location because you have to also have means of Emergeny isolation.

 

[shyguy100]

FAT ( fixed appliance testing)

 

[Adam W]

FAT ( fixed appliance testing)

II&TEE (In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
That's what the IET call it - there's no need to start making up your own acronyms.
Who ever heard of a company getting someone in to do FAT testing?

 

[Risteard]

Who ever heard of a company getting someone in to do FAT testing?

I think Augustus Gloop does it.

 

[fryers]

How often do you have to carry out Fixed Appliance Testing

 

[44ALLAN]

II&TEE (In Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.
That's what the IET call it - there's no need to start making up your own acronyms.
Who ever heard of a company getting someone in to do FAT testing?

FAT = Factory Acceptance Test.

Not a lot of people know that

 

[Bazza Sparks]

Hi Fryers, If you read the new IET code of practice, edition 4 that came out last November, all retesting is done by risk assessment. It depends on type and class of item, location, whos using it, previous PAT test history, how likely staff or users are liable to report a problem. Thers a few other bits in there as well. Bearing in mind the code is only a guide, it says you dont put a retest date on the stickers anymore either. What I have done on my last few jobs is make a susgested retest sched and told the duty holder that the final descision is up to them if they think it should be done more or less often.

 

[oldtimer]

Hi Fryers, If you read the new IET code of practice, edition 4 that came out last November, all retesting is done by risk assessment. It depends on type and class of item, location, whos using it, previous PAT test history, how likely staff or users are liable to report a problem. Thers a few other bits in there as well. Bearing in mind the code is only a guide, it says you dont put a retest date on the stickers anymore either. What I have done on my last few jobs is make a susgested retest sched and told the duty holder that the final descision is up to them if they think it should be done more or less often.

Ditto me to

 

[Eckaslike]

How does one test built in ovens & hobs which often are connected to a dual connection plate behind the oven, also gas hobs with elec. ignition.

 

[oldtimer]

Well if you are a PAT tester legally you cannot and you are not insured if you are a qualified spark you can plus you will need to make a set of leads up BIG GREY area this

 

[Eckaslike]

Well if you are a PAT tester legally you cannot and you are not insured if you are a qualified spark you can plus you will need to make a set of leads up BIG GREY area this

I am a time served sparks with 50 years experiance but not Part P. None of my customers have asked me to test the appliances supplied, so is it up to them if they
have them tested ? I do have problems with cookers tripping off the C.U RCD which is a pain in the ar--. In one case I had to replace the cooker, Customer not happy.
Once again thanks for your replies.

 

[oldtimer]

Here is the problem ISI&TEE or PAT was always about testing electrical equipment no matter how they are connected so why ? Well it was brought in because electrical deaths at work was not from fixed wiring but electrical equipment .

Problem was when it took off it seemed a pretty neat idea in the workplace to get semi skilled people to do the testing of portable equipment only with the electrician mopping up the fixed equipment but no one predicted the explosion in this sector plus we also went to a service based economy ie office . shop and rental properties only thing is the people who ran it were saying remember you have to test fixed appliances as well but the PAT companies were allowed to in my view run wild and anyway it did not pay to do fixed as they also had to hire an electrician for it.

So PAT companies started perpetuating the myths that we have now ie PAT means portable equipment only or electricians have to get C&G2377 to do it if not then they are not PAT qualified or You have to PAT test every year because if something happens you could be charged with coperate manslaughter.

Only problem even after the H&S and ISI&TEE review we are no further forward or clearer yep the government wants to widen the test period for less cost to business but have lumped the decission on the customer and still not clarified fixed appliance. Now that means PAT companies are still ignoring it so when you or I are asked to quote for it we get stuck with like for like so yep customer does not want it but the regs say otherwise.