PAT Testing Cost - Prices for London
We offer quality, cheap PAT Testing throughout London, for schools and businesses. With over twenty year's experience in Portable Appliance Testing, you know you can rely on us and we offer very competitive pricing.
Anywhere where people work, or public gather, PAT Testing
should be carried our regularly to help detect faulty electronics. Basically, If
there's a mains plug then it needs to be tested!
Portable Appliance Testing Costs
Call 0800 619 1852 now for a free quote.
Health and Safety legislation that covers protection & well being of members of the public
employees of companies and their customers, requires that you carry out Regular
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT Testing) of all electrical equipment. This is essential
in order to assess the safety of your electrical devices.
At VisualCom, we've been providing fully managed inspection and testing services to schools, local & educational authorities, general business, industry and medical practices for over twenty years.
Our service is reliable, efficient & cost effective.
Affordable PAT Tests in schools
We offer experienced engineers throughout the London, Hertfordshire and Essex areas for Portable Appliances Testing (PAT Testing) .
Tests for appliances are split into three options, depending upon the level of services you require:
1) Bronze standard testing
All items are tested and a note of numbers of items tested given.
Items are numbered using labels in sequence, following a route around
the
school site.
If a map of the school is provided to us we will mark the numbers of units
in each room as we move around the site.
2) Silver standard testing
All items are tested and a note of numbers of items tested given.
Items are numbered using labels in sequence, following a route around
the
school site.
A list of test numbers will be provided on a report sheet, together with
device type and location (no serial numbers).
3) Gold standard testing
All items are tested and a note of numbers of items tested.
Items are numbered in sequence, following a route around the school site.
A list of test numbers will be provided on a report sheet, together with
device type and location.
In addition a serial number will be listed with the device where appropriate
/ available on the unit.
Testing procedure in a nutshell...
Tests are carried out on all electrical items with standard UK plugs.
As
appropriate, our technicians will carry out :
Visual inspection of mains leads, fuses and cases for wear and damage
which
might compromise electrical safety of items.
Insulation test and earth bonding / leakage test.
Where items such as servers and network hubs are found, a visual inspection
only will be made unless a technician from the site can close down the
system to allow tests.
What happens if an item fails?
Where an item is damaged or worn to an extent that it may impair electrical
safety or electrical tests do not pass, the item will be failed.
Where possible however, we will carry out repair of an item and if satisfied
will re test at no extra charge. If an item is failed and repair is not
possible on site we will note this and suggest a course of action. No
charges are generally made for occasional replacement of plugs or fuses
or
renewal of short lengths of mains cable whilst on site.
Other information
We try to avoid disruption wherever possible and will carry out tests
in
your main offices at times best suited to you during our visit. Our
technicians are very experienced in dealing with school environment.
More in-depth information on PAT Testing
Legislation relevant to Portable Appliance Testing
The HSE (Health & Safety Executive) states that twenty-five percent of
all reportable electrical accidents involve portable appliances. Think
about that, it’s a significant figure and one that you can help negate by regular
safety testing.
Next, the ‘Electricity at
Work’ regulations give employers a legal responsibility for both their
employees and any self-employed people to have complied with any provisions
of the regulations. This means taking reasonably practicable steps for them
to ensure that there is no danger resulting from any use of this sort of
equipment. To cover these regulations, it in effect requires the introduction
of a regular program of inspection, testing and maintenance.
With
the Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 there is a duty of care for both
the employer and the employee in ensuring safety of all people who use the
work premises (including any self-employed people). The obligation applies in the following instances,
where appliances are:
1)
Used by employees.
2) Used by by public in establishments such as hotels hospitals, shops schools,
etc.
3) Supplied or hired out.
4) Serviced or repaired.
Next up, The Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994 have a set of minimum safety requirements for all electrical equipment, whether second-hand or new. This includes apparatus, devices, and appliances, supplied to a home and throughout the UK. Portable appliance testing (often referred to as PAT Testing, even though the ‘T’ stands for Testing anyway!) is therefore a vital part of complying with the electrical health and safety legislation and also to any Health & Safety Policy that may be in place.
Next in line comes The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 (PUWER) which means that an employer, has responsibility for maintaining all electrical equipment used in a business, in safe working order.
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 states that:"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of (a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and (b) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or in connection with the conduct by him or his undertaking."
It
can be seen, therefore, that regular PAT testing should be undertaken where
electrical equipment is hired out to, or used by employees, the general
public or by customers. It also follows that after equipment has been
repaired or serviced PAT testing should also be carried out.
If
you weren't convinced already, then the Electricity at Work Regulations
1989 requires electrical systems and appliances must maintained in order to
help prevent risk of accident. The Health and Safety Executive Memorandum
of Guidance HS(R)25 recommends maintenance regime consist of regular testing
and inspection by competent and qualified person or persons.
What does it mean?
When summarising the legislative scope of the HSW Act 1974, the EAW
Regulations 1989 and PUWER 1998 it
is clear that:
1) It
applies to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, work places.
It covers everything from distribution systems to the smallest pieces of
electrical equipment.
2) There is a requirement for testing
& inspection of all types of
electrical equipment in all work environments and spaces.
A Managed Electrical Appliance Inspection and Testing System is will help you in the essential
task of protecting your employees and your business. If you wish to have help
in developing the most appropriate plan for your situation, we offer a free
site assessment visit where one of our specialists can review your
inventory of electrical appliances
in order to discuss the type of
inspection and testing system
needed to meet your legal
obligations.
Call 01279 755155 now for a free quotation.
Is PAT Testing a legal requirement?
While annual testing is still not mandatory (source http://www.hse.gov.uk/electricity/faq-portable-appliance-testing.htm) , over the years, more and more companies and organisations are adopting
a PAT policy yearly or every twenty-four months, to further ensure both the safety of any users but also to maintain up to date in their legal responsibilities. After all, it is fairly likely to help in a case if it can be proven that adequate and regular inspection of electrical devices used by employees or coming into contact with customers is carried out.
What are the PAT Testing processes we follow?
Initially, inspection of equipment is carried out visually checking both the environment and situation of the appliance in question, and then checking for obvious problems or defects. For example:
Cables located safely to help avoid damage
Equipment positioned correctly to avoid straining cords
Avoiding indiscriminate use of multi-way adaptors & trailing sockets
Is there an easily accessible means of disconnection or isolation.
Avoid unprotected cables running under carpets
Damage to either electric flexes or equipment
Is there adequate ventilation of the equipment
Electrical flexes pulling / coming away from plugs or having signs of unauthorised repair - damaged cables should be replaced and not repaired.
Any sign of overheating such as discolouration or burn marks
Damaged or cracked plugs
If plugs are damaged, opening of the plug cover can enable further checks, such as:
Is the correct fuse being used
Are terminals secure & wired correctly.
When a formal visual inspection is carried out, the details should be recorded as part of the company's Health & Safety history.
Portable Appliance Testing uses a PAT testing device to check equipment's electrical integrity. In doing this, it can help to highlight faults such as insulation failure or loss of earth integrity which cannot be determined by visual inspection alone.
Electrical testing of portable equipment will involve the following:
Functional checks
Insulation resistance testingEarth bond continuity tests
Call 01279 755155 now for an immediate quotation.
Testing services we
offer (please make sure you specify any particular requirements when we are
quoting):
Professional,
friendly service
free of hidden extras Our testing service provides testing based on:
an agreed per item or per site rate
Out
of hours and weekend testing available by mutual agreement
All
work being carried out by fully qualified and security screened engineers
CRB
checked engineers for school environments.
Minimal
disruption as all testing
done
on site
plug or lead is required, etc.) within charges
Certification available, along with an asset register log book (carried out by floor, location, room, etc.) presented upon completion of the testing and provided in both hard
and soft copy formats
Proactive reminder service
Over twenty years' experience in the specific needs and specialist equipment of:
Clinics & Hospitals
Hair & Beauty Salons
Medical & Dental Practices
Call
Centres
Schools
and other Educational Establishments
Health
Clubs,
Production & Design Studios
Local Authorities
Research & Pharmaceutical Facilities
By prior arrangement, we can also provide microwave leakage testing while conducting
your PAT Testing.
Call 01279 755155 now for an immediate quotation.