Guide to PAT Testing Labels & How to Complete Them

Q: What is a PAT Test?

Defined as Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), it is a routine inspection or examination of various types of electrical equipment and appliances to determine if they are safe to use: this is to prevent accidents or harm to humans, animals and property in the workplace.

All electrical devices in the workplace must be PAT tested. Once completing a round of PAT (portable appliance testing) tests, electrical devices will usually pass or fail. To ensure that workers and others are safe from potential harm, PAT testing labels will be applied to prior-PAT tested devices to provide a visual indication of their status.

Labels are easily identifiable and contain a unique identification code and numerous key indicator information, including pass/fail status, appliance ID, test/retest date, engineer initials and the company the engineer represents.

In today’s blog, we will look at the information usually present on PAT testing labels as well as the types of labels you may see.

Common Information on PAT Testing Labels

Pass/Fail Status

The most commonly and easily identifiable aspect of a PAT testing label will be whether the electrical appliance has received a pass or fail, during its most recent PAT testing date. Colour-coded, appliances that pass a PAT test will have a green label, whereas those deemed to have failed will have a red one and usually accompanied by the words do not use.

Appliance ID

Several PAT testing labels will have a space for an Appliance ID, typically in the form of a number: particularly helpful when a location – such as a workplace, school, university or server room – has several devices of the same type.

Test Date

Most PAT testing labels show the date of the previous test, identifying the month and year. Helpful if the test was more recent as it provides more reliable data to the engineer who is to complete the next PAT test.

Retesting Date

Many PAT testing labels will show an advisable date for the next PAT test. Though there are no legal obligations or requirements to conduct PAT tests, it is generally good to conduct PAT tests at least once per calendar year.

Engineer Initials

PAT testing labels will often contain a space where the test engineer conducting the PAT test can identify themselves via their initials.

Company Details/Company Logo

The engineer will often be a representative of an external company. If so, they will often have to record the company details – such as name and contact information – whilst also including a stamp of the company’s logo: good info to have if using an external company to conduct PAT tests.

Types of PAT Testing Labels

There are various types of PAT testing labels to suit differing requirements. As they have received revisions over the years, different types exist to make inspection and testing easier to identify and store digitally.

Barcode Labels

Often bespoke to a particular company, agency or individual contractor. Barcode labels will be applied so that specialised software can store and library relevant information remotely, cutting down on extensive manual paperwork and allowing for ease of access.

Pass/Fail Labels

Green for a pass, red for fail. As mentioned previously, pass/fail PAT testing labels will often be colour-coded for ease of visual inspection. They are often printed on hard-wearing vinyl and applied to devices via tough adhesive, ensuring they can only be removed deliberately.

Plug Top Labels

Designed to be placed on the lid of plugs, this PAT testing label will detail if a plug is safe to use.

Visual Inspection Label

Often blue, a visual inspection label will indicate that devices have passed visual inspection.

Quick-Pass PAT Testing Label

Designed to save time and money, quick-pass PAT test labels are useful when an engineer has to conduct lots of PAT tests in one location – requiring only two ticks to complete. The test is not any shorter, but the admin required is significantly quickened.

Microwave Leakage Labels

Orange in colour, these labels are designed to detail the amount of microwave emissions leakage.

PAT Testing and More Fire Safety With Cardinal Fire Protection

Cardinal Fire Protection helps businesses who are keen to brush up on their internal fire safety process, protocols and awareness. We deliver expert PAT testing and labelling, follow-ups, workplace safety assessments, fire safety training and procedures.

We assist in your fire safety obligations via direct and succinct fire safety training, assessment and services and regular PAT Testing.

Was this guide on the PAT test labelling helpful? Continue with further reading:

All You Need to Know About PAT Testing Computers

When PAT testing offices and retail environments, it is highly likely that you will be PAT testing computers and other PC-type devices.

As computers and other IT equipment are electrical devices, they must be PAT tested; however, there are crucial rules and safety precautions that you must follow when testing such devices, to avoid damage being caused to the equipment or yourself from suffering harm.

Test the Power Cable

The first step when PAT testing computers is to assess the power cable: this test is independent of PAT testing the actual computer unit.

This test is very standardised and separated into four distinct steps:

Visual inspection – via inspecting the cable yourself, you should look for faults such as a broken plug, damage to the plug flex, breaks in the wiring or any exposed internal wiring
Earth continuity test
Insulation test (at 500V DC)
Polarity test

If you are completely satisfied with the results of the test and that the power cable is still fit for purpose, you are now safe to use the cable when PAT testing the computer.

PAT Testing the Computer

Please note: when PAT testing a computer, please only use a PAT tester that can conduct the earth continuity test with a current of no more than 200mA – if you use a higher current, you could potentially damage the motherboard of the computer.

Firstly, you must conduct a visual inspection computer. Your visual inspection should include the main body of the computer (often called a tower) and external equipment. Should you have any doubts stemming from the visual inspection regarding the tower or external equipment, mark it down as a fail and give the findings and recommendations to the relevant authority of the business (here’s what to do in case of a PAT test fail).

Should you be satisfied that the computer and its peripherals are competent, according to the visual inspection, you can use the power cable from earlier to conduct the PAT test on the computer.

Before conducting any of the regular PAT testing procedures, you should conduct a bare metal test (such as on USB ports) by using the earth bond lead to detect if there are any unsafe electricity leaks that have the potential to shock people.

Once you are satisfied with the results from the bare metal test, you may begin the PAT testing of the computer proper:

Conduct the earth continuity test at 100-200mA – do not use more than 200mA as this may cause damage to the computer or its components
Move on to the insulation test at 500V DC for newer computers, or a leakage test for older models

Following all of these steps and granting a pass rating will ensure that the computer is usable, ideally until the next PAT test is due.

Extra: PAT Testing A Computer Monitor

Often overlooked, you must also PAT test a computer’s monitor. The majority of computer monitors in use are class 1 items, often containing exposed metal parts – such as the USB ports – meaning that, much like other IT equipment, you should PAT test computer monitors to assess their safety.

Cardinal Fire Protection’s Computer PAT Testing Services

Cardinal Fire Protection assists companies who are looking to improve their fire safety and awareness, or those businesses who have fallen short in their fire safety obligations.

We will assist in your day-to-day fire safety obligations by providing direct and succinct fire safety training, assessment and services, including regular PAT Testing of computers and other equipment.

Was this computer PAT testing guide helpful? Check out some more useful PAT testing resources belowWho can PAT Test? | Beginner’s guide to PAT Testing | All about PAT Testing Classes | BS5839 Alarm Guide

How to Identify PAT Testing Classes | PAT Testing Made Easy

Without proper care, maintenance and regular reviews, electronic equipment can pose a real threat. Over time, the efficiency and condition of electrical equipment will decrease: think of it as wear and tear, in simpler terms. Because of this, it is crucial to conduct regular maintenance checks – done by an expert – to ensure that the equipment is running correctly and safe to use.

This guide will allow you to understand the different PAT testing classes and why it is critical to conduct PAT testing accurately and efficiently.

As electronic equipment becomes more prevalent within our daily lives, the importance of PAT testing is crucial.

What is a PAT Test?

Defined as Portable Appliance Testing (PAT), it is a routine inspection or examination of various types of electrical equipment and appliances to determine if they are safe to use: this is to prevent accidents or harm to humans, animals and property in the workplace.

Though many defects of electrical equipment can be visually determined, PAT testing also involves a cable inspection using specialist PAT testing tools. The full PAT test is simple to break down:

Visual inspection of the electrical appliance
Cable inspection – using PAT testing equipment

The cable inspection portion of a PAT test will include checks and confirmations of the earthing continuity, lead polarity and the integrity of the insulation resistance.

The definition of PAT can be somewhat misleading, however, particularly the word “portable”: appliances that fall under PAT can be any appliance that has a plug attached to connect it to a wall outlet.

There are three distinct classes of electrical appliances: Class 1, Class 2 and Class 3. Class 1 devices are the most dangerous and require a full PAT test.

What Falls Under PAT?

There are seven categories of electronic equipment that fall under PAT testing:

Cables and chargers – mobile phone chargers, laptop chargers etc.
Fixed appliances – storage heaters, hand dryers, machine tools etc.
Handheld appliances – hair dryers, drills, irons etc.
IT equipment – computers, printers, photocopy machines etc.
Moveable appliances – toasters, kettles, DVD players, televisions, game consoles etc.
Portable appliances – laptops, wireless landline phones etc.
Stationary appliances – fridges, washing machines, clothes dryers etc.

The interpretation of portable under PAT testing is broad, meaning there is a need to conduct PAT tests regularly on such devices to maintain their safety.

Who is Responsible?

Under the Electricity at Work Act 1989, the responsibility of ensuring that equipment was safe – or, at least, scheduling tests with a competent expert – was that of the equipment owner; usually, this would be the company owners/directors or their direct representatives in the line manager or site manager.

If there is a maintenance manager present, the title of Duty Holder falls on them to organise regular PAT testing.

Is PAT Testing a Legal Obligation?

There is currently no direct law that stipulates or recommends a business owner conducts PAT testing; however, The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 suggests that employers have a “duty to ensure the safety” of those using the work premises.

PAT testing has proven to be a quick, efficient and reliable method of adhering to the obligations placed on employers in the Acts of 1974 and 1989.

Understanding the Classifications

Before we go into depth with the PAT classes, we must first establish some background knowledge as to the purpose of the system.

A class of an appliance helps in determining if it requires a PAT test and the level of degree to which it should be tested.

When testing, a Class 1 appliance will require a full PAT test (as they are the most dangerous class), whilst Class 2 devices need a PAT insulation test.

On the other hand, Class 3 appliances do not need to be PAT tested, though testing of their charging leads and cables may be required.

The PAT Appliance Classes – Defined

Class 1

These electrical appliances only have simple insulation and instead, rely on earth for protection. Such devices are the most common.

Class 2

These electronic devices are outfitted with supplementary insulation and therefore have no reliance on earth for protection. Such devices will be identifiable with a double insulated marking (a square within a square): usually found on the manufacturer’s plate.

Class 3

Low voltage electricals: they are the safest of the classes. They do not require a PAT test; however, the charging lead and cables may do. Class 3 devices will often carry a symbol that contains three vertical stripes within a diamond.

The Importance of Each PAT Class

The PAT classes, as well as the appliance category, are important because they are used collectively to determine what type of PAT testing is required and how regularly such tests should be carried out.

As devices and components that carry electric current are often delicate, the possibility of faulty occurrences remains very real: notably, if routine inspections are not occurring.

An honest and thorough examination of such equipment ensures that they are safe to use and pose no immediate threat to life or property. The legal obligation to keep workers and the public safe from harm means that although PAT testing is not a regulated requirement, it is at the very least a moral duty towards the safety of others.

Who Can PAT Test?

Under the HSE legislation, those who test electrical equipment must be competent and have the following credentials before conducting any PAT testing:

Experienced in electrical works.
Understand the system that they will work on.
Recognise and fix emerging problems or suggest solutions.
Competent understanding of hazards which may arise without adequate precautions.
Possess fundamental knowledge and education of electricity.

What Businesses Need PAT Testing?

In simple terms: any business which has electrical appliances intended for commercial purposes or function should maintain and test said electrical appliances.

Under HSE, business owners and management must maintain and ensure safety for workers, guests and customers.

It is also advisable for commercial persons who lend property and accommodation – hotel and motel owners, landlords etc. – to consider PAT testing to ensure the safety of guests and tenants: at least annually.

Our PAT Testing Services

Established to simplify fire safety compliance for businesses, Cardinal Fire Protection assists organisations that have fallen short in their approach to adequate fire safety.

Our aim is to assist your commercial day-to-day operations and obligations by providing direct and succinct fire safety advice and services, including regular PAT Testing.

Did you find our guide on the basics of PAT testing classes useful? If so, expand your knowledge with some information on what to do in case of a PAT test fail, how to conduct employee fire safety training and our comprehensive guide on BS5839.

What Happens if an Appliance Fails a PAT Test?

A tried and trusted method of evaluating the integrity of electrical devices, the PAT testing procedure will deliver a verdict of a pass or fail on devices. Whilst receiving a pass will confirm that a particular appliance is adequate for continued service, what happens should a PAT test fail?

Failed PAT Test – What Happens?

Whilst the primary objective of a PAT test is to determine if an appliance is safe for workers and the public, it is also helpful in finding faulty devices and repairing where possible and inexpensive to do, or dispose of them entirely.

As the customer, a business will usually receive the PAT test report – if the examiner is competent – which will detail the procedure, the findings, reasons for failure and recommendations as to whether the appliance is suitable for repair or needs disposal.

The recommendations made will sometimes make proposals suggesting that the appliance could be suitable for repair by a specialist engineer – such as a domestic appliance engineer or an engineer hired directly by the manufacturer – but such recommendations will be on a case by case basis.

Should the reason for failure be relatively small and easily remedied, professional PAT testers will often schedule an intervention after all tests have been completed: for example, if the casing of a plug were to be a reason for failure, it would be replaced and, once the appliance is within an operational standard, it will be issued a renewed passed certificate.

Sometimes an appliance will merely have reached its end-of-life and must be put out of commission, disposed of and replaced. Whilst it is unfortunate that an appliance that was once thought of as operational may have to be replaced at additional expense, the preservation of workplace safety should be at the forefront of importance.

Common Reasons for PAT Test Fails

There are some extremely common reasons for PAT test fails and any duty holder would benefit from being able to identify them so that if a device were to become unsafe for use between PAT test periods, the device can be removed and quarantined until it is deemed as suitable for repair or to be disposed of.

Here are some of the more common reasons for PAT test failure:

Damaged Plugs: Any damage to the structural integrity of a plug or appliance itself – such as cracks, dents or holes – could pose electric shock potential and lead to a PAT test fail.
Counterfeit/Fake Cables: Many counterfeit cables have shoddy workmanship – particularly the plug unit. Often, through incompetent/rushed labour, an earth pin will be partially insulated causing the earth element to be missing when it is plugged in. Don’t knowingly purchase cables from unauthorised sellers.
Damage to Flex/Wiring: Cables with regular use and movement (think phone charging cables) will eventually be prone to wear and tear: once a cable enters its final stage of life, naked wires may become visible and risk conducting unwanted current outside of the sheath.
Non-Insulated & Live Pins: Though new plugs come fabricated with insulated live and neutral pins, older plugs may not. Though rare in occurrence, older, uninsulated pins can cause shocks to users via accident or deliberately with external utensils. Such older plugs will fail a PAT test.
Incorrect Fuse Use: Many people do not know which fuses are suitable for certain devices, because of this incorrect fuses may be installed. If an inadequate fuse is found to be in use during a PAT test it will result in a fail and the test engineer will replace the fuse with a one of the correct rating to ensure the device is safe to use.

Items That Most Commonly Fail PAT Tests

Several items within the home and office will fail PAT tests more often than others:

Mains power supply cords for computers and monitors – particularly in offices with floor boxes, in which the lid can cut into the cable if closed before the cable is sat flush.
Kettles – such a fast-moving consumer product, that is often used communally and often is prone to breakage.
Extension cables – plug them in, put them down, kick them about and forget about them. Their insignificance once installed plays a large role in their failure: accidental kicks here and there will contribute to the external casing receiving damage and internal components loosening over time due to the vibrations.

Other Reasons for PAT Test Failure

Not all PAT test fails are caused by an appliance being categorically faulty. There are various reasons why a PAT test may fail, including:

Age of appliance
Aged PAT testing tools
PAT testing tools incorrectly calibrated or calibration has lapsed
Incorrect choice of PAT test for the appliance
Incorrectly conducted PAT tests

Expert PAT Testing Services in the Midlands

Though a PAT fail is unfortunate, sometimes it is a necessary evil in the bigger picture of keeping yourself, your workers and property safe from harm. Incompetent or incomplete PAT testing can result in faults remaining completely undetected or perfectly adequate electrical appliances being receiving a failure: both unwanted and avoidable outcomes.

We established Cardinal Fire Protection to translate the often-complicated business of fire safety and protection into its most simple form: helping businesses who have, at one point, fallen short of fire safety expectations.

As specialists in fire safety and prevention, we conduct expert PAT testing and provide industry-leading fire safety advice to your business so that you can focus on the commercially demanding aspect of your day-to-day, whilst keeping your employees and customers safe.
Did you find our PAT Test Failure guide helpful? If you did, please broaden your fire safety knowledge via reading our articles on Who can PAT Test?, the PAT Testing Classes, BS5839 Guide and the Fire Safety Training for Employees Handbook.

Who can PAT test? | What do PAT Testers do?

Who Can PAT Test Electrical Equipment and What Do PAT Testers Do?

According to the Health and Safety legal requirements, it’s the business owner’s legal responsibility to make sure that all portable electrical equipment is regularly inspected and maintained in a safe working condition to avoid injury or death at work. To help you achieve compliance and meet the requirements of the Britsh Standards (BS 65000), you should have all your work equipment PAT tested by a competent person. Read along to find out what a competent person means and who can actually PAT test, as well as what the PAT tester does.

Who can PAT test electrical equipment?

The law describes the PAT tester as a “competent person” but what does this actually mean? If we take a look at the IEE Code of Practice, we’ll find out that the competent person can be anybody in your business, as long as they match all of the following criteria:

They have adequate knowledge and experience in working with electricity
They have adequate practical skills in working with the PAT class they are inspecting
They have an adequate understanding of the electrical system to be inspected
They have adequate knowledge of the potential health and safety hazards involved in the PAT testing procedure and how to prevent them
They have the ability to adequately assess the situation and stop the inspection if a considerable risk arises

As you can see, the above doesn’t require advanced technical knowledge, however, it does require the PAT tester to undergo special training before becoming qualified to perform the inspection. Therefore, if you are planning to appoint a responsible person within your organisation to oversee electrical maintenance, you will also need to ensure that they have been given the necessary specialist training first.

Many business owners in the UK opt to not use their internal resources to do PAT testing, due to the responsibility of the task and the time and cost involved in completing a PAT training course (takes on average 40 hours to complete). Another consideration is that if the trained competent person leaves the company, you will need to invest in upskilling another employee to do the job.

Also, as the correct implementation of the PAT testing techniques may make the difference between achieving compliance and failing to implement the necessary Health and Safety provisions in the workplace, it’s often best to avoid the risk altogether and employ a professional PAT testing service company to conduct the necessary checks for you.

Choosing to hire a professional PAT tester means that your equipment will be inspected by a trained and certified electrician. Most professionals have industry-specific qualifications that allow them to do PAT testing on niche equipment that’s specific to your business.

What do PAT testers do?

A qualified PAT tester will be responsible for examining all portable electrical equipment in the workplace, from computers and printers to kettles and microwaves. Each piece of equipment that is PAT tested will be classed as either Class I or Class II, which is something that the PAT tester has to be familiar with to be able to correctly identify the class and follow the relevant testing procedure.

The PAT test itself will consist of a formal visual inspection to spot any visible signs of damage to the equipment followed by a complete PAT test examination performed using special portable appliance testing tools. The PAT tester needs adequate knowledge and particle understanding of working with electricity to do that safely and to correctly identify whether the appliance tested is safe to use.

If the equipment passes the PAT test successfully, this will be marked by affixing the appropriate PAT testing label on it. If the equipment fails, the PAT tester will report this and notify you that the equipment in question is not safe to use until the issue is fixed and the appliance has successfully passed a follow-up PAT inspection.

At the end of the PAT test examination, the PAT tester, whether they are a competent person within the business or a trained electrician, will provide you with a certificate to acknowledge the PAT test has been performed, as well as the results. You should keep this certificate in your records as evidence of your risk management activities.

Your chosen PAT tester should conduct a full examination of all appliances in the workplace at least once a year to prevent electrical accidents at work.

Relevant PAT Testing Regulations

PAT testing may not be a legal requirement per se but having your electrical equipment at work examined by a PAT tester can help you comply with the UK legislation listed below:

Now that you know who can PAT test and what PAT testers do, you might want to follow up by reading our Beginner’s Guide to PAT Testing

Want to book a PAT test in the Midlands? Speak to the expert safety engineers at Cardinal Fire for PAT testing in Birmingham and Wolverhampton.

Portable Appliances Testing (PAT) Guide | PAT Testing Guide

PAT Testing 101: Beginner’s Guide to Portable Appliances Testing (PAT)

If you are an employer, Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) testing is the perfect solution for ensuring that all electrical equipment at work is technically sound and safe to use. With electrical fires making up 33% of all accidental fires in the workplace in the UK, this is an important step you need to take to achieve regulatory compliance with all relevant health and safety legislation.

If you are new to PAT testing, this handy guide will give you all the crucial information you need at a glance, so read along and get your occupational health and safety (OH&S) practices on track!

What is PAT testing and what does it involve?

PAT testing stands for Portable Appliance Testing is an inspection conducted on all electrical equipment at work to ensure that it can be used safely. It involves a manual examination done using a special PAT test device which is preceded by regular informal checks by the user and a formal visual inspection by a specialist.

User Checks

Every member of staff should be given the appropriate training so that they know how to use the equipment correctly without endangering themselves or others. In addition to that, your employees should be able to spot health and safety hazards, such as obvious signs of damage to the equipment (e.g. naked cables, dangling plugs etc), as well as other potential risks, including live cables near water and cables trapped under furniture.

Formal Visual Inspection

While user checks have an informal nature, before a manual PAT test is conducted, every eligible appliance should undergo a formal visual inspection to spot any obvious signs of damage.

At the start of the visual inspection, the appliance must be unplugged to prevent accidents. Then, the inspector will follow a list of items to check, including:

Plugs: Examine for signs of burns, incorrect wiring, cracks and other signs of damage
Cables: Confirm the cables are undamaged and there are no exposed wires
Appliances: Check for burn marks, rust, cracks and any other obvious concerns
Socket: Loose fittings, signs of burn and exposed wires are some of the issues to look for
Residual Current Device (RCD) Checks: Use the test button to ensure the device works as it should and examine for other visual signs of damage
Environmental Checks: Take a look at the place where the appliance is used and identify any hazards that could arise from the environment (proximity to water, trip hazards, tangled wiring etc).

The formal visual inspection can either be done by an appointed member of staff who has been given formal PAT training or by a professional engineer who specialises in PAT testing.

The PAT Testing Procedure

Once the visual inspection is done, the PAT tester will proceed with the manual PAT test examination. As part of the testing procedure, a portable appliance tester device is used to check the continuity, polarity and resistance of the equipment.

Once the results are out, the tester will place a PAT label on the equipment to mark whether it has passed or failed. If the device has passed, it can be used safely. If it has failed, you will need to take action and either has the appliance fixed or replaced before it can undergo another PAT test. A device that has failed a PAT test is considered unsafe and should not be used until it has passed the test.

The official PAT testing guideline can be found under ‘Maintaining Portable Electrical Equipment’ on the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) website.

What appliances need a PAT test?

PAT testing is done on all portable electrical equipment; this includes every electrical appliance that can be unplugged from the electrical supply and moved to a different location. Portable equipment can be small (e.g. computers, printers, kettles, heaters, toasters, fans, microwaves and TVs) or large (washing machines, fridges, vending machines, etc).

Portable electrical appliances can be categorised as either Class I or Class II based on the level of user protection they provide:

Class I: An earth connection is used to prevent electric shocks. The casing is usually is made of metal. Common examples include kitchen equipment, such as toasters, microwaves and fridges.
Class II: A double insulation is used for additional protection. Typically, a plastic casing is used. Common Class II appliances include computers, printers and photocopiers

Wired-in equipment, as well as battery-operated appliances, such as mobile phones, do not need to be PAT tested.

PAT Testing Rules and Regulations

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, it is the employer’s responsibility to protect the health and safety of their employees in the workplace. Specific guidance on your responsibilities as a duty holder regarding electrical equipment can be found in the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

Failure to comply with the above legal requirements may result in large finical fines and legal action against you and your business. So, even though Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) testing is not a legal requirement per se, it should be an essential part of the health and safety compliance strategy of any business that uses portable electric appliances. This includes everything from offices, hotels and healthcare providers to self-employed home workers.

PAT testing is done to ensure that everyone is safe at work and that you, as an employer, have fulfilled your duties as described by the law. It’s a simple, cost-effective solution too.

PAT Testing FAQ

Now that we have the basics covered, our PAT testing guide will explore some of the other important questions you may have regarding your portable appliance testing.

How often do I need a PAT test?

The frequency of PAT testing needed is determined by the risk level associated with the equipment. This includes factors such as how often it’s used, where it’s used and who is using it. Your regular risk assessment will give you further guidance on the specifics of each appliance but usually, you are advised to conduct a PAT test at least once a year.

Who is responsible for PAT testing at work?

The employer carries the legal responsibility to ensure the health and safety of their staff, so PAT testing, as part of the general compliance strategy, will come under the employer’s duties.

Who can carry out a PAT test?

A PAT test can only be conducted by someone who has had the appropriate training. Depending on the complexity of the equipment and the level of risk involved, this could either be a staff member who has undergone PAT training or a professional PAT tester.

What is a PAT test certificate?

The PAT test certificate is a document that is issued by a specialist PAT testing engineer at the end of the PAT inspection. You should keep this in your records as it can be used as evidence of your compliance with the health and safety regulations.

Can I do my own PAT test?

Yes, but only if you have undergone the relevant PAT testing training. If the PAT testing procedure hasn’t been carried out as it should, this could expose people at work to health risks and expose your business to various problems caused by regulatory compliance failure.

How can Cardinal Fire help?

Cardinal Fire is a PAT testing company based in the West Midlands, offering affordable PAT testing services to businesses in the area. Our PAT testers are highly qualified and have FIA and BAFE certification, as well as ISO 9001 and UKAS quality management accreditation.

Featured Image: Pexels Licence – ERIC MUFASA

Emergency Light Testing | FREE Monthly Test Sheet Download

Emergency Light Testing 101 (with FREE Test Sheet)

All fire safety equipment on your premises must be checked regularly to make sure that it works correctly and emergency lighting is no exception. Emergency light testing should be carried out monthly and the lights should be serviced annually to ensure that if the main power is out or in case of a fire emergency, the emergency lights will be able to safely guide people to the emergency exits. Let’s take a look at how to do emergency lighting testing right!

What are emergency lights?

Emergency lights are designed for use in emergency situations. They are not connected to the main power supply, so they should remain visible even during power outages. If evacuation is needed, especially in the event of a fire when the amount of smoke can obstruct the visibility, the emergency lights can direct the occupants to the emergency exits. When a stressful situation like this occurs, having clear guidance reduces the probability of mass panic and facilitates smooth and orderly execution of the fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP).

The various types of emergency lights can be defined based on their mode of operation or by their power supply source as follows:

By mode of operation

There are three types of emergency lights based on the way they work:

Non-maintained: The emergency lights only turn on when the main power fails
Maintained: The emergency lights switch on and off along with the normal lights in the building but they will also switch on and remain on if the main power fails
Sustained or Combined: Sometimes, four fluorescent tube lights can be installed in a drop ceiling. They work as normal lights on a day-to-day basis but if the main power fails, one of the four luminaires remains on. The tubes can either be non-maintained or maintained

By power source

There are two types of emergency lights units based on the power source:

Self-Contained: The emergency lights are powered by a self-contained battery within the unit and rely on no external power sources
Slave: The emergency lights form a system of individual units that are all powered by one large external battery as a power source

When and how to test emergency lights

The legal requirements for emergency lighting testing under the British Standards Code of Practices for Emergency Lighting (BS 5266-1:2016) are that all emergency lights should be checked monthly by the responsible person and serviced at least once a year by a trained technician.

Monthly Emergency Lighting Checklist

Emergency lights must undergo a quick switch on/switch off test every 30 days to ensure that they are all still functioning. It’s the legal duty of the responsible person to ensure this is done regularly and that the tests are well-documented.

The monthly emergency lighting check only takes about 30 seconds or so but it may require the main power source to be switched off temporarily, so you should always give advance notice to everyone working in the building to make them aware of the scheduled disruption.

The emergency lights test goes as follows:

Flick the specialist test key switch if available, if not switch off the power using the fuse box
Check whether all emergency lights are working or not
Record your findings on your emergency lighting test sheet
Turn the power switch back on
Place your report in the fire safety logbook
Report any issues with the emergency lighting to the person responsible for your fire safety equipment maintenance

Don’t forget that every time you conduct a monthly emergency lighting check, you must complete a test sheet that must be kept in the emergency lighting logbook. In case of a fire incident, this documentation can be used to prove that you had achieved regulatory compliance.

Download our emergency light testing template for FREE!Download

Annual Emergency Lighting Checklist

Unlike the monthly test which is very quick, the annual emergency lighting check takes up to three hours. The reason why it takes so much longer is that the battery of the emergency light should be able to keep the light on for at least three hours. The person doing the testing will switch the main power off for the full three hours to observe whether the lights will stay on as long as expected.

Because the test takes so long, it needs to be scheduled well in advance, especially if it takes place during working hours. To ensure that the emergency lights are maintained in perfect working order, as required by the British Standard code of practice (BS 5266), you should enlist an experienced fire safety professional with good knowledge of the fire safety regulations in the UK to conduct the full annual check.

The test itself follows a similar procedure to the monthly check:

Notify the people in the building in advance
Turn off the main power source
Check if the emergency lights switch on automatically
Check if the emergency lights stay on for at least three hours
Log any emergency lights that are not working
Place your annual emergency lighting inspection report in the logbook
Ensure all uncovered issues (if any) are resolved

Usually, if the emergency lights fail the annual test, the issue is in the battery, so the batter will have to be replaced. The fire safety expert conducting the test should give you a completed emergency lighting inspection form including follow-up action recommendations that you can add to your logbook.

FAQ

What are the legal requirements for emergency lighting?

According to the emergency lighting regulations in the UK, emergency routes and exits must be illuminated by emergency lighting that can adequately lead people to safety in the case of an emergency. The emergency lights must be tested, serviced and maintained regularly.

How often does emergency lighting need to be tested?

A quick switch on/off test should be performed every month to ensure that the emergency lighting turns on automatically.

A full 3-hour long emergency lighting test must be performed every 6-12 months to ensure that the emergency lights have the capability to last as long as required.

What is an emergency lights test switch?

This is a test switch specially designed to cut the mains power to the emergency lights without disturbing the power supply to the rest of the building. When a special test key is not provided, the emergency lighting test needs to be performed by switching off the main fuse.

What does it mean if the emergency lights flash?

If your emergency lights are blinking in green this indicates that the emergency lighting system has entered the testing mode.

What does a red light mean on an emergency light?

Emergency lights must illuminate in green. A red light either indicates that there is an issue with the system, potentially a low battery or another failure, or it alerts you that the system needs to be serviced. If you notice a red light, please contact a fire safety engineer immediately.

If you found our emergency light testing guide useful, you may also like to read our guides on how and when to do fire alarm servicing in the UK and BS5839.

Fire Alarm Servicing: When, Who, How?

Fire Alarm Servicing: How often should you service your fire alarm?

Every workplace must have an adequate number of fire alarms installed to match the needs of the premises and keep everyone safe in case of a fire. If you are the owner of a business, to be able to prove that you have completed your legal duties as a responsible person, you must also have your fire alarms serviced regularly. Fire alarm servicing is done by a specialist engineer and it’s crucial to ensure that the fire alarm system is working properly for longer.

So, how often should you service your fire alarm? Read along to find out!

Fire Alarm Servicing & Maintenance Legal Requirements

When we talk about fire safety in commercial buildings, the British Standard BS 5839 (see our guide on BS 5839) is the place to look for guidelines. Designed by BSI – the UK national standards body, this document covers everything from planning and installation to the servicing and maintenance of your fire detection system at work.

The official UK fire alarm regulations require your fire alarm system to be ‘adequately maintained’. Admittedly, this is open to interpretation. However, the BS 5839 takes this further by specifying that it’s recommended to book a fire alarm service every 6 months.

Since BS 5839 is the standard recommended by the Government, the safest choice is to follow it and have bi-annual fire alarm servicing done by a fire safety engineer. This will help you prove that you have taken the necessary actions to achieve regulatory compliance if you are requested to do so by the authorities.

Why is fire alarm servicing important?

There are three main reasons why fire alarm servicing is important for you and your business: fire safety, regulatory compliance and false alarm prevention. Let’s look at each one in a little bit more detail!

Fire Safety: First and foremost, fire alarm servicing ensures that your fire detection system is working as expected; this can save lives in the event of a fire
Regulatory Compliance: If the relevant authorities come to inspect your business, regardless of whether there has been a fire incident at work or not, you must be able to prove that you have done everything you can to ensure adequate fire safety on the premises. Every time an engineer comes to do fire alarm servicing, this is documented and you can show the paperwork as evidence to support your compliance activities
False Alarm Prevention: Regular maintenance reduces the risk of false alarms. Recurrent false alarms are a nuisance and cause interruptions to the workflow, reducing your team’s productivity, wasting time and in the end – costing your business money

What’s included in the fire alarm service & maintenance?

Fire alarm servicing must be done by a competent person – this is someone who has the necessary knowledge and training to understand how different alarm systems work and identify, as well as rectify issues with them. This is why maintenance should be done solely by experienced fire safety engineers who hold relevant qualification.

The fire alarm inspection will be done according to a detailed fire alarm maintenance checklist, which looks at all of the working components of the system, including call points, connections, batteries, detectors and signalling systems. The engineer will also look for any changes in the premises that could affect the performance of the fire alarm system and they will investigate the cause of any registered false alarms.

At the end of the inspection, the competent person will assess all their findings to decide whether the fire alarm system is fit for purpose or not. They will also give you a document listing the details of the inspection (date, time, name of the inspector), as well as all their findings and recommendations. You can use this as proof that you are following the regulatory guidelines recommended by the Government.

Bear in mind that if your building is considered high-risk, the engineer may also recommend that a fire alarm servicing and maintenance is done more frequently; usually, every four months instead of the general guideline of every six months.

What else is required for compliant fire alarm maintenance?

In addition to the bi-annual fire alarm servicing, your fire alarm maintenance practices should include weekly fire alarm tests and daily maintenance checks by the users. This is usually done by the appointed fire marshal at your workplace.

The daily fire alarm checks only include a quick visual inspection by the fire warden. They will look for things like visible damage, such as missing tags, broken glass and any other sign of tampering with the key components of the fire alarm system.

The weekly fire alarm tests should be a regular, scheduled activity that takes place every week on the same day and time. As part of the process, all manual call points should be checked to see if they work correctly and the fire alarm should be sounded to find out if it can be heard throughout the entire premises. The correct fire alarm testing procedure should be followed to ensure that the fire detection system works as intended in between the professional checks.

If the fire warden spots anything wrong with the fire alarm system, this should be reported immediately and you as the responsible person will have to address this by scheduling a fire alarm inspection even if it’s not due yet. This is why weekly fire alarm testing can change the frequency of service.

Need fire alarm servicing in the Midlands?

If your business is based in the West Midlands and your bi-annual fire alarm service is due or if you need help planning or installing a new fire alarm system, book your fire alarm servicing with Cardinal Fire – your Birmingham-based fire experts. We offer fire safety services to a variety of sectors including education, office, retail, leisure, construction and manufacturing. Our team will be happy to help you achieve regulatory compliance too!

Featured Image: Pexels Licence – Srattha Nualsate

The Fire Extinguisher Life Span & How to Extend It

How long is the fire extinguisher life span & how to extend it?

The fire extinguisher life span isn’t a topic that most regular people would need to know about but if you’ve found yourself in charge of the fire safety of a building, you definitely should. As a responsible person, you’ve probably been going through all sorts of information about fire extinguishers from what types of extinguishers there are to how often you need to get a fire extinguisher serviced and even how to protect your fire extinguishers from vandalism. You may have also thought about where to buy a fire extinguisher or if you need to buy a new one to replace your old one.

So, after having learned so much about fire extinguishers already, the next step is to find out what the average fire extinguisher life expectancy is, whether there’s anything you can do to extend it and whether your fire extinguisher will pass its next safety inspection.

Luckily, we are here to give you all the answers you need!

Fire Extinguisher Life Span

According to the current UK fire safety regulations, it’s recommended that fire extinguishers should be replaced every 5 years. CO2 fire extinguishers make an exception to this rule – they should be replaced every 10 years.

Nothing lasts forever, including fire extinguishers. Even if it hasn’t been used a fire extinguisher has to be replaced after a certain amount of time. Generally speaking, whether a fire extinguisher is still good for use depends on various factors including the product quality, the environment it’s in and how it has been maintained. That being said, even the highest quality extinguishers should not be older than 20 years.

Reasons to service/replace a fire extinguisher sooner

Damaged fire extinguishers also need to be serviced and potentially replaced, regardless of their age, as they would no longer be considered safe to use. Wondering how to find out that something’s wrong with a fire extinguisher? Here are some of the most common problems that can occur and that can easily be spotted by someone who is not a trained fire safety engineer:

Missing safety pin
Cracks, rust, bumps on the canister
Missing inspection tag
Broken or missing tamper seal
Cracked, broken or ripped hose
Cracked, broken or missing nozzle
Any other visible damage to the outer shell

Another thing to keep in mind is that fire extinguishers have to be refilled/replaced after every use, regardless of their age.

How to extend a fire extinguisher’s life span

Like every other product, your fire extinguisher needs regular maintenance in order to function well longer. If not taken care of, your fire protection equipment can degrade over time and get damaged as described above. Regular maintenance by a professional ensures that potential issues are spotted and corrected before they cause a serious problem and spares you the trouble of having to buy a new extinguisher earlier than expected.

Only certified fire safety engineers can carry out these inspections and, under the Fire Safety Order 2005, if you are the responsible person for any property, you must book a fire extinguisher service at least once a year. In addition to that, if you want to extend the lifespan of an extinguisher, you must have extensive fire extinguisher maintenance performed every five years.

For more information on what a fire safety engineer is looking for when testing a fire extinguisher and what should be included in your service and maintenance, check out our fire extinguisher maintenance and servicing guide.

How do you dispose of expired fire extinguishers?

If your fire extinguisher has reached the end of its life span, you will have to dispose of it. The good news is that fire extinguishers are largely recyclable. The bad news is that you can’t simply put a fire extinguisher in your usual recycling bin, as it is considered hazardous waste.

You have a couple of options on how to get rid of an old fire extinguisher. First, you can call the local fire department or fire protection company to ask if you can drop it off there. Fire safety professionals will have usual channels set up to dispose of out-of-date fire extinguishers. However, your local companies may not offer such services.

If that’s the case, you can take your old fire extinguisher to the nearest hazardous waste disposal facility or a large household recycling waste disposal facility. Always give them a ring first to see if there are any special requirements on how you should prepare the extinguisher for safe disposal.

If your fire extinguisher has been discharged and it’s empty, you could take it to a steel recycling centre, if you have one nearby. However, you must check if they offer the service and if they do, you should make sure to release any leftover pressure by pressing the lever to ensure the extinguisher really is empty before you drop it off.

Need to have a fire extinguisher serviced anywhere in the West Midlands? Book your fire extinguisher servicing, whether it’s your service, your 5-year service or an emergency service, with the fire safety specialist Cardinal Fire Protection. Simply give us a call on 0845 130 8211 or email us at sales@cardinalfire.net

Fire Safety Training for Employees | How to do it right

Staff fire safety training for employees

Any business owner in the UK is legally required (as per The Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005) to provide sufficient information about the fire safety procedures to their staff and to do that you need to organise regular fire safety training for employees.

In addition to offering basic fire safety training for everyone who works in the building, you must also provide special fire warden training for the member (or members) of staff who you have appointed to act as a responsible person. This is a more specialised training which comes with a fire marshal certificate which needs to be renewed minimum every three years.

How often is fire safety training required?

You should carry out a staff fire safety training once a year. An annual refresher ensures that your team are aware of the fire safety procedures and that they are up to date with any possible changes. Also, if you have new members of staff, this is a great opportunity to introduce them to the basic fire safety procedures within the business.

You may need to organise a fire safety training earlier than your regular 12-month training session if there have been significant changes to the team, the environment or the industry regulations. Some of the possible scenarios include:

You have implemented significant changes to your internal safety policies
The fire evacuation procedure has changed
You have introduced new work equipment that may pose a fire risk
You have reasons to believe that some of your employees have gaps in their fire safety knowledge
A number of new employees have joined the team and your regular fire safety training isn’t due anytime soon
You have changed premises
There has been a fire incident at work that could have been prevented
A significant fire incident has occurred within your industry and it has affected the fire safety procedure for all businesses in the industry, including yours

As we mentioned earlier, your fire wardens will have to undergo special fire marshal training every three years to ensure that their certification is up to date. If your appointed marshal leaves the business, you need to select a replacement and get that person the appropriate training as well.

What’s included in basic fire safety training?

Depending on a person’s role within the business and the type of industry they work in, the level of fire safety training they require will be different. However, every employee should have basic fire training as a minimum to limit the risk of fire incidents at work. Here are some of the main topics that should be covered in the fire awareness training.

The Fire Triangle

Understanding the concept of the fire triangle is essential to battling fires. Simply put, fire needs three elements to burn: heat, fuel and oxygen; remove either one of them and the fire will be extinguished. The basic fire safety training should cover specific real-life examples of how to apply this principle in practice.

What to do in case of fire

From what to do if you discover a fire to the correct way to evacuate a building, knowing the fire emergency evacuation plan (FEEP) is basic fire safety knowledge that every employee should have. It also includes fire exits, assembly points, how to sound the fire alarm and more.

How to reduce fire hazards

The statistics show that nearly a quarter of all workplace fire incidents in the UK in the last decade have been caused by a simple human mistake, which means that the most common cause of fire in the workplace is likely preventable. This is why the basic fire safety training for employees must always cover those small things that we could change in our everyday behaviour to minimise the risk of a fire, including:

Avoid clutter in the workplace
Use the designated smoking areas
Make sure chemicals are stored safely
Place electric cables away from heat sources
Keep machinery clean and well-serviced
Keep the fire exits clear and unobstructed
Ensure that the fire extinguishers are properly maintained
Report any potential fire hazards immediately

Fire Classes

Another useful topic to cover in fire safety training for employees is the five classes of fire recognised in the UK. Knowing what type of fire you are facing is the key to extinguishing it because it tells you what fuel is keeping the fire burning:

Class A fires -> fuel is a solid, flammable material (e.g. plastic, fabric, wood, paper and rubber)
Class B fires – > fuel is a flammable liquid (e.g. petrol, paint, gasoline or oil (not cooking oil))
Class C fires -> fuel is flammable gas (e.g. propane, butane and methane)
Class D fires -> fuel is a flammable metal (e.g. magnesium, potassium, or aluminium)
Class F fires – > fuel is cooking oils or fats

Electrical fires don’t have a class letter but they are a separate group and they are marked with an electric spark symbol.

Fire Extinguisher Types, Colours & Use

Since not every fire extinguisher is useful against every type of fire, it’s important to include the types, colours and usage of the various fire extinguishers on the agenda for your staff fire safety training. The basic information that should be covered includes what the different types of fire extinguishers are, how to recognise them and what fires they can combat.

Water (Red) – > Class A fires
Foam (Cream) -> Class A and B fires
Powder (Blue) – > Class B, C, D fires and Electrical fires
CO2 (Black) – > Class B fires & Electrical fires
Wet chemical (Yellow) – > Class A and F fires

How to use a fire extinguisher

Every member of staff should know how to use a fire extinguisher, even if it’s just the following simple steps:

Remove the pin
Aim at the fire
Press the level
Move the nozzle from side to side as you get closer to the fire and continue until the flames are extinguished completely

Also, it could be useful to teach your employees how to use a fire blanket without endangering themselves and when it’s not appropriate to do it.

How to help others, especially those with special needs

People with disabilities may have varying levels of mobility and they may have special needs when it comes to a fire emergency. Protecting those who are less abled has to be covered in their basic training as they will have to be aware of their personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) if they require one.

This is also an important topic to cover in the special fire warden training because part of the fire marshal’s responsibilities is to offer anyone who needs assistance the help they need to evacuate the burning building safely.

Why is fire safety training important?

It may be the legal responsibility of the employer to keep everyone in the office safe but every member of staff plays their role in fire safety, which is why it is crucial to ensure that the appropriate fire safety training has been provided.

The UK national statistics (2010-2020) show that 22% of fires in the workplace are caused by human error, 14% due to placing an item too close to a heat source and 6% are due to smoking, The majority of these fire incidents could potentially have been avoided, had the staff followed the best practices outlined in the basic fire safety training. This clearly highlights the importance of fire safety awareness for health and safety at work.

By simply offering regular staff fire safety training, you could prevent serious injuries and even death. Additionally, a fire can cause damage to the property and cost huge amounts of money in repairs, loss of business, lawsuits, and damaged machinery. All of these can then lead to job losses and harm the business and its employees in the long run. This is why practical fire safety training is important and should never be skipped.

How can Cardinal Fire Protection help?

At Cardinal Fire Protection, we offer all levels of essential fire safety training for employees and we have been helping businesses across the West Midlands improve their staff’s fire safety awareness for years. Whether you are in retail, construction, leisure, education or manufacturing, our fire safety engineers know the industry specific areas that they need to focus on during the training to obtain the best results.

From the basics of fire knowledge (including our guide to BS5839) and how to act in the event of a fire to specialised fire marshal training, our fire safety training courses give your employees the tools, knowledge and skills they need to spot fire risks and react to fires in the most effective manner to prevent damage and save lives.

Get in touch with us today to book your training!







Check us out on Facebook









0845 130 8211









sales@cardinalfire.net