Portable Appliance Test (PAT)
- An electrical test to ensure that plugs on portable appliances are safe. This is necessary due to the additional stress to cabling when plugging in and unplugging appliances.
- Loose strands of wire can cause short circuiting and potentially death. Visually inspect and correct any defects.
- Continuity testing is important to ensure the metal surface of e.g. a washing machine is not live. This can happen when the live wire is poorly connected and is making erroneous contact with the earth.
- Such problems can occur at:
- the plug wiring,
- the appliance wiring
- or inside the insulating cable connecting the appliance to the plug
- Ideally testing should be conducted annually or following each tenancy termination as tenants can interfere or damage previously safe connections.
- Washing machines, clothes irons and vacuum cleaners are most frequent offenders as they vibrate and or "move or walk" often 'nicking' outer insulation making it unsafe.
- Regular checking reduces the likelihood of injury.
Published: 11 November 2013
Last Updated: 18 November 2021