Pat Testing In A Rented Property - Which Appliances Need Testing?

[bigspark17]

In service inspection & testimg of electrical equipment

 

[Flanders]

Of course now don't I feel daft . I can tell you I have never seen a cental heating boiler have a test label on it and never been ask to test one before , but I guess your correct, old wet pants an't going to be testing the electrics.

 

[codger]

Think the whole PAT testing issue is hilarious. Items getting tested left, right and centre for no reason other than to generate money for someone.

 

[bigspark17]

Think the whole PAT testing issue is hilarious. Items getting tested left, right and centre for no reason other than to generate money for someone.

Or is it that sparks who know what needs testing gets tested for the safety of the tennant and to satisfy the duty of care held by the landlord. Makes me laugh when firms will 'pat test' a panel heater on a plug top but not one in the next room wired into a sfcu. If the landlord provided copies of the eicr to 'pat testers' and showed what was and was not tested in the eicr then it would be clear that nothing is left untested.

 

[Pat H]

I was in a hotel and noticed a PAT sticker on a blanking plate over what would have been a switch fused outlet to a towel heater. I can only imagine the only test was visual.

 

[Pete999]

Personally I think most PATester get the wrong idea, the person incharge, Office Manager, Duty Holder, Boss, Land Lord,someone who thinks they are the boss should/must have a list of equipment that requires testing, it's up to them to provide you, the tester, with an up to date register of equipment under their control.

 

[bigspark17]

Personally I think most PATester get the wrong idea, the person incharge, Office Manager, Duty Holder, Boss, Land Lord,someone who thinks they are the boss should/must have a list of equipment that requires testing, it's up to them to provide you, the tester, with an up to date register of equipment under their control.

I disagree, you are being hired as the competent/qualified person and should be telling them what needs testing! How does a office manager know what falls under the isitee requirements?!

 

[Risteard]

Actually I agree with Pete. Surely it is the responsibility of the Duty Holder to know what they have and to ensure that it is maintained.

When asked to do PAT Testing (I'll use that term as it is the common one for the process) I always ask what they have. 9 times out of 10 they say do everything, but I try to point out that this is difficult to achieve especially as I couldn't possibly have any idea what should or should not be there as I likely have never been in the premises before!

On the 1 time out of 10 (or less) when they do actually have an asset register there are normally things missing (e.g. IEC leads to connect the equipment; extension leads; UPS etc.)

 

[Pete999]

I disagree, you are being hired as the competent/qualified person and should be telling them what needs testing! How does a office manager know what falls under the isitee requirements?!

Why do you think they are appointed "duty holders" perhaps if you read the ISITEE instructions you will change your mind, the duty holder is given that particular responsibility to ensure items are tested at intervals, oh and by the way there is no requirement to enter date of next test on the label, that is down to the duty holder as well. The duty holder should have a register of equipment under His/Her control. HSE requires the duty holder to know what equipment they have, RTFM

 

[Pete999]

I disagree, you are being hired as the competent/qualified person and should be telling them what needs testing! How does a office manager know what falls under the isitee requirements?!

Also you do not need any qualification to PATest just be competent to do the testing.

 

[Pat H]

Well take it that far and you don't even need to do PAT testing. Its a recommendation. As is keeping records as is being trained.
There arte loads and loads of folks who just don't bother and as we all know the real world risks are very low and the chances of being prosecuted even lower.
Still its a nice little sub business if you don't mind the endless task day in day out.

 

[FatAlan]

Surely you should have an agreed list of what you are testing and if they don't put that together prior to testing you could do it for them at a cost followed by an agreed follow up date. Repeat custom.

 

[Pat H]

Its all in the Should and Must. A bit like the highway code. There are things you MUST do and things you SHOULD do.
MUST is the LAW. SHOULD is best practice and helps avoid potential legal issues should things go wrong.
I think from my training everything under PAT testing is a SHOULD. There are no MUSTs until its decided its important enough to be mandatory and backed up by law only the responsible people will do it (and they generally don't have issues because they are responsible) the rest will just take a chance, save costs and undercut those being responsible.

By creating a situation where the responsible companies are incurring costs the less responsible aren't legally required to its not a level playing field.

 

[mhar]

I detest appliance testing but I do end up doing it as I look after a number of holiday rentals.
My approach is to explain to the customer how I understand the legislation or lack of it. Because of the lack of legislative guidance, in the event of an accident the authorities only have the landlords duty of care to his tenants to consider. If the landlord can demonstrate that he has followed all the advice and guidance given then what more could be asked of him / her?
The advice is to have the fixed wiring inspected and tested every five years. Appliances require testing as per a to be drawn up schedule based on the isitee 4th edition recommendations.
In the 'house folder' (which almost all holiday rentals have) there is a copy of the EICR, an equipment register for appliances (inc hard wired items) and schedules of test results.
This costs on average £160-£200 every 5 years for the EICR. £80 for the first year to draw up the equipment register, test everything and enter all the details, then roughly £50 per annum for repeat appliance testing (as details are already entered and not all items are scheduled for annual testing).
To reinforce the answers already given the OP, EVERYTHING gets tested even though doing so can be mind numbingly tedious. My only get out is refusing to just test appliances, I only do it as part of an overall package (EICR as well)

 

[bigspark17]

Mhar i think youve hit the nail on the head. Its good to hear from sparks out in the field, you obviously have a well set out plan where you and youre customer know where each other are at. So if a third party was to read that 'house folder' they could see what is covered in the EICR and what is covered in the appliance test??