Core service areas
London, Bedfordshire, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Cambridgeshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent, Norfolk, Suffolk and Surrey.
Home / PAT Testing
Portable appliance testing, documented and defensible.
PAT testing confirms that anything with a plug is safe to use. Polarity inspects and tests your portable equipment, labels each item pass or fail, and hands you a full asset register and signed certificate — the evidence that shows your electrical maintenance duty is being met.
What PAT actually is
A formal inspection, backed by instrument tests.
PAT is the combined visual inspection and electrical testing of portable and movable equipment — kettles, monitors, extension leads, power tools, chargers, anything that plugs into a socket. Each item is examined, then tested with a calibrated instrument.
- Formal visual inspection. Damaged casings, frayed flex, cracked plugs, wrong fuse ratings and overloaded adaptors — the majority of faults are found here.
- Earth continuity. On Class I equipment, we confirm the earth path is intact and within limits.
- Insulation resistance. Verifies live parts are properly separated from anything you can touch.
- Functional & polarity check. The appliance is switched on and wiring polarity confirmed before the label goes on.
The legal position, stated plainly
There is no law that says “you must PAT test”.
And there is no legally fixed interval. What the law does require is that electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition. That duty comes from the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998, which place responsibility on employers and duty-holders.
PAT is simply the recognised, practical way to demonstrate that you are meeting that duty — a documented, repeatable check with evidence to show for it. How often you test is a risk-based decision, not a number set by statute.
Know your equipment
Class I and Class II are tested differently.
CLASS I
Earthed protection
Relies on an earth connection for safety — kettles, toasters, microwaves, many power tools and IT equipment with an earthed plug. We test earth continuity and insulation resistance.
CLASS II
Double insulated
Protected by two layers of insulation rather than an earth, marked with the double-square symbol — phone chargers, many lamps and hair dryers. Earth continuity does not apply; we test insulation and function.
LEADS
IEC & extension leads
The most failure-prone items on any site. Detachable power leads and extension blocks are tested as separate assets, with polarity and continuity confirmed end to end.
Suggested frequencies
Risk-based guidance — not the law.
These intervals are widely used guidance based on how hard equipment is used and its environment. Your own risk assessment always takes precedence.
OFFICE IT
Every 2–4 years
Stationary equipment in a low-risk environment — desktops, monitors, printers and desk lamps that rarely move.
HANDHELD
Every 1–2 years
Portable equipment that is moved and handled daily — kettles, vacuums, drills and floor-standing appliances.
CONSTRUCTION
Every 3 months
Tools and 110V equipment on site take heavy knocks in harsh conditions and are checked far more often.
HIRE STOCK
Before each issue
Hire equipment is inspected and tested before every issue, with the record tied to the item on its way out.
Kitchen and cleaning equipment — deep-fat fryers, dishwashers, floor scrubbers — is exposed to heat, water and constant use and is typically tested more frequently than general handheld items.
Who this is for
If you have staff, tenants or the public on site, this applies to you.
- Employers & offices. A straightforward way to evidence your equipment-maintenance duty for staff and visitors.
- HMO & student landlords. Widely expected under HMO licensing, and in Scotland PAT of landlord-supplied appliances is required for private lets under the Repairing Standard.
- Construction sites. Frequent testing of tools and 110V transformer equipment in the toughest environment.
- Hospitality, schools & hire. Kitchens, classrooms, function venues and hire fleets where appliances see hard, public-facing use.
240,000+Items tested
3.1%Typical fail rate
1Engineer, start to finish
48hrRegister & certificate
On the day
How a PAT visit runs.
STEP 01
Scope
We confirm the site, the rough item count and any equipment that must stay live, then agree a slot — usually out-of-hours where needed.
STEP 02
Inspect & test
Each item gets a formal visual inspection followed by the relevant instrument tests for its class.
STEP 03
Label
Every item is labelled pass or fail with its unique ID and next-test date. Failed items are withdrawn and reported with the fault.
STEP 04
Report
You receive a full asset register and a signed test certificate within 48 hours, ready for your compliance file.
“Polarity turned a shoebox of ageing kit across four sites into one clean asset register we actually trust. The engineer flagged three failed extension leads on the spot — and the certificate was in our inbox before he'd left the car park.”
What you get
Every visit leaves a paper trail.
- Pass/fail labelling. A durable label on each item showing its unique ID, test date and next due date.
- Full asset register. A spreadsheet of every item tested — description, location, class, result and readings.
- Signed test certificate. A dated, signed record for your compliance file, with failed items listed against the fault found.
Per-item pricing
Priced by the item, not the hour
£1.30 per item, from
- Minimum call-out applies to smaller jobs
- Volume discounts on higher item counts
- Better rates where an asset register already exists
- Labelling, register and certificate included — no extras
Give us a rough item count and postcode and we'll confirm a fixed price before we attend.
Common questions
The honest answers on PAT.
Not sure what's in scope or how often you need it? Call 0330 043 8871 and speak to a qualified engineer, not a call centre.
Ask a questionIs PAT testing a legal requirement?
No single law says you must PAT test, and there is no legally fixed interval. However, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and PUWER 1998 require duty-holders to keep electrical equipment in a safe condition. PAT is the recognised, practical way to demonstrate you are meeting that duty — which is why insurers, licensing schemes and auditors routinely expect it.
How often should equipment be tested?
It's a risk-based decision, not a fixed rule. As guidance: office IT and stationary equipment every 2–4 years, portable handheld items every 1–2 years, construction-site tools around every 3 months, and hire equipment before each issue. Your own risk assessment and the environment always take precedence.
What's the difference between Class I and Class II?
Class I equipment relies on an earth connection, so we test both earth continuity and insulation resistance. Class II equipment is double insulated (marked with the double-square symbol) and has no earth to test, so we carry out insulation and functional checks. Detachable and extension leads are tested as separate items.
Do landlords need PAT testing?
It depends on where and what you let. It is widely expected for HMOs and student lets under licensing conditions. In Scotland, PAT of landlord-supplied appliances is required for private tenancies under the Repairing Standard. For single lets in England and Wales it is strongly advisable as evidence of maintenance, even where not separately mandated.
What happens if an item fails?
The item is labelled as failed, withdrawn from use and recorded on the register against the specific fault found — a damaged flex, incorrect fuse or insulation failure, for example. Many faults are minor and can be corrected on the spot, such as replacing a plug, fuse or lead, then re-tested and passed.
How is PAT testing priced?
Per item, with a minimum call-out charge on smaller jobs. Rates fall as item counts rise, and we discount further where you already have an accurate asset register we can work from. Labelling, the register and the certificate are all included in the price.
Book today
Every appliance tested, labelled and logged.
Send us an item count and a postcode for a fixed per-item price — with labelling, asset register and certificate included as standard.
Book PAT testing
Service coverage
Available across London and surrounding counties.
Postcodes and neighbouring areas
We serve London postcode districts plus AL, BR, CB, CM, CO, CR, CT, DA, EN, GU, HA, HP, IG, IP, KT, LU, ME, MK, NR, PE, RG, RH, RM, SG, SL, SM, SS, TN, TW, UB and WD areas.
Coverage extends into neighbouring districts where scheduling permits. Enter the full postcode when booking so we can confirm attendance and pricing.