Equipment and testing
Class 1 vs Class 2 Appliances: Symbols, Examples & Tests
Understand Class I and Class II protection, use manufacturer markings to identify equipment and choose suitable checks without guessing from plugs or casings.
PAT testing guides
Advice, practical guides and resources for people learning about PAT testing and those already carrying it out.
All articles
Templates and records
Free PAT Testing Log Sheet Template (Excel & PDF)
Download our free PAT testing record sheet in Excel and PDF format, plus a clear guide to what records you need to keep and how long to store them for.
Running a PAT business
How Much Does PAT Testing Cost? Budgeting and Quote Guide
Compare the cost of a PAT testing service with in-house testing. Understand scope, minimum fees, VAT, staff time and illustrative budgeting examples.
Running a PAT business
How Much to Charge for PAT Testing: A Tester's Pricing Guide
Build a PAT testing quote using your costs, travel, job scope and margin. Includes illustrative pricing calculations, minimum fees and VAT considerations.
Getting started
How Often Should PAT Testing Be Done? Risk-Based Frequency Guide
Choose inspection and testing intervals from equipment, use, environment and previous findings. Includes HSE guidance and the IET frequency-table clarification.
Running a PAT business
How to Start a PAT Testing Business in the UK (2026 Guide)
Plan a PAT testing business around competence, equipment, records, insurance and customers, with illustrative budgets rather than guaranteed earnings.
Getting started
Is PAT Testing a Legal Requirement in the UK? (2026)
The short answer might surprise you. A clear breakdown of UK PAT testing law, HSE guidance and exactly when you're legally on the hook.
Equipment and testing
PAT Tester Calibration: Frequency, Checks and Records
Plan PAT tester calibration and verification using manufacturer instructions, equipment condition and applicable requirements. Understand the records to keep.
Employers and property
PAT Testing at Work: What Every UK Employer Needs to Know
Organise workplace electrical maintenance with suitable checks, competent staff, defect reporting and records that reflect your equipment and risks.
Templates and records
PAT Testing Certificate: What It Needs + Free Template
Use a suggested appliance-test report template and understand its purpose, useful fields, retention and the difference from a learner training certificate.
Templates and records
PAT Testing Checklist: Planning, Inspection and Records
A planning checklist for PAT work: preparation, visual inspection, selecting suitable tests, handling defects and keeping useful records.
Equipment and testing
PAT Testing Equipment: Every Machine, Tester & Tool Explained
Confused by PAT testers, tags, software and calibration kit? A plain-English breakdown of every bit of PAT testing equipment and what it actually does.
Employers and property
PAT Testing for Landlords: Legal Requirements in 2026
Understand landlord appliance-maintenance duties by nation and tenure, including Scotland, England social housing, licence conditions and risk-based checks.
Templates and records
PAT Testing Risk Assessment: Worked Example and Planning Guide
Use an illustrative in-page risk assessment to plan the actual job. Covers hazards, controls, recording duties and when to review the assessment.
Getting started
Who Can Actually Do PAT Testing? (It's Not Who You Think)
The truth about the 'competent person' rule, what qualifications you really need, and why you probably don't need a qualified electrician to do PAT testing.
Getting started
What Is PAT Testing? The Complete UK Guide for 2026
PAT testing explained simply: what it is, who actually needs it, how often it's required and what it costs. Everything you need to know in one guide.
Equipment and testing
What Appliances Need PAT Testing? The Full UK List (2026)
Build an electrical-equipment maintenance inventory, from kettles and computers to leads and fixed equipment. Understand which checks depend on risk.
Equipment and testing
Do Brand-New Appliances Really Need PAT Testing?
Buying new kit doesn't always mean skipping the test. What the HSE and the law actually say about PAT testing new, unused and second-hand appliances.
Equipment and testing
PAT Testing Laptops, Monitors & IT Kit: What You Need to Know
Plan suitable checks for computers, monitors, chargers and mains leads. Identify the actual protection class, assess risk and coordinate sensitive IT maintenance.
Equipment and testing
Fixed vs Portable Appliances: What Counts as a PAT Test Item?
Understand handheld, portable, movable, stationary and fixed equipment, and when fixed or three-phase work needs additional specialist competence.
Employers and property
HMO PAT Testing: Housing Rules and Licence Conditions
Check the electrical-maintenance rules and licence for your HMO. Covers shared equipment, records and why a single annual interval cannot be assumed UK-wide.
Employers and property
PAT Testing for Holiday Lets & Airbnb: Is It Mandatory?
Plan electrical maintenance for holiday lets and Airbnb accommodation. Distinguish Scottish licensing duties, local conditions, insurance terms and practical checks.
Employers and property
PAT Testing in Schools: Rules, Frequency & Best Practice
Plan school electrical maintenance around pupil use, equipment risks and safe access. Covers inspection intervals, competence and specialist equipment.
Running a PAT business
PAT Tester Insurance: Cover, Requirements and Quotes
Compare public liability, professional indemnity and equipment cover. Separate legal duties from contract terms and get a quote for your actual PAT work.
Getting started
PAT Testing vs EICR: Which One Do You Actually Need?
They sound similar but test completely different things. What a PAT test covers, what an EICR covers, and when you genuinely need both.
Equipment and testing
Do Extension Leads Need PAT Testing? Inspection and Testing Explained
How to include extension leads, cable reels and adapters in a risk-based maintenance plan, with equipment-specific testing and practical damage checks.
Getting started
Do You Need PAT Testing at Home? The Honest Answer
Straight talk for homeowners — when PAT testing actually applies to you, when it doesn't, and simple electrical safety checks anyone can do.
Electrical safety data
Care Home Electrical Safety Statistics: Sources, Risks and Duties
Understand care home electrical safety data, the limits of national fire totals, equipment maintenance and the responsibilities of care providers.
Electrical safety data
Construction Electrical Safety Statistics: Site Risks and Evidence
Read construction electrical safety statistics in context, with guidance on portable tools, site supplies, overhead lines and risk-based maintenance.
Electrical safety data
Electrical Accident Statistics UK: Understanding Official Injury Data
Find reliable electrical accident data and understand reporting scope, injuries, fire statistics and the limits of portable appliance testing.
Electrical safety data
Electrical Fire Statistics UK: What the Official Figures Measure
Understand electrical fire statistics, with verified England data for 2025/26 and clear distinctions between ignition sources, causes and appliance faults.
Electrical safety data
Landlord Electrical Safety Statistics: Evidence and Rental Duties
Understand the limits of rental fire statistics, the difference between EICR and appliance checks, and England and Scotland landlord requirements.
Electrical safety data
Office Electrical Safety Statistics: Risk, Evidence and Maintenance
Put office electrical safety figures in context and plan proportionate checks for IT equipment, kitchens, personal appliances and hybrid working.
Electrical safety data
PAT Testing Statistics UK: Failure Rates, Records and Evidence
Understand what PAT testing statistics can show, how to calculate your own failure rate and why maintenance decisions need more than national fire totals.
Electrical safety data
School Electrical Safety Statistics: Evidence and Practical Controls
Understand school fire data without mixing periods or populations, and plan electrical maintenance for classrooms, laboratories, workshops and kitchens.
Electrical safety data
The Cost of Electrical Fires to UK Businesses: Evidence and Planning
What official fire-cost research can tell businesses, what it cannot, and how to assess property damage, downtime, insurance and prevention costs.
Electrical safety data
Workplace Electrical Safety Statistics: Data, Duties and Prevention
Use workplace electrical safety data correctly, distinguish accident and fire statistics, and organise a practical maintenance and reporting programme.
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