Do Brand-New Appliances Really Need PAT Testing?

The standard advice you'll hear is: no, new appliances don't need PAT testing. And that advice is broadly correct — but it's also missing some important nuance.

The full position is that brand-new appliances don't need a full combined inspection and test before first use, but they do need a formal visual inspection — and there are several specific scenarios where even brand-new equipment should get a full test. This post walks through what the HSE actually says, what the IET Code of Practice recommends, and the edge cases where "it's new, so don't bother" is genuinely the wrong answer.

What the HSE and IET actually say

The HSE's position on new equipment is contained in its guidance document HSG107 and aligns with the IET Code of Practice. The relevant principles are:

1. New equipment is supplied by the manufacturer in a condition that's been quality-tested before despatch — the assumption is that it's safe when it leaves the factory.
2. Before first use, a formal visual inspection should still be carried out to check for transit damage, missing components and any obvious manufacturing defects.
3. The new appliance then enters the standard testing regime at the interval appropriate to its class, type and environment — meaning its first full PAT test happens at the end of that initial interval, not before first use.

In practical terms: take the appliance out of the box, look it over carefully (plug, cable, casing, accessories), record it on your asset register, and put it into service. The full electrical test happens at the next scheduled testing round.

When new equipment DOES need a full PAT test

The "no full test required" position assumes the appliance arrived in good condition from a reputable supplier. There are several scenarios where you should test new equipment fully before using it:

Visible damage on arrival

If the box is damaged, the cable looks crushed, the plug is cracked or anything looks out of place — don't trust the manufacturer's quality control. Test it before use, or return it to the supplier.

The appliance has been modified

If the new appliance has been adapted, rewired, had a different plug fitted, or had any kind of modification done between leaving the factory and arriving at you, the original quality testing no longer covers it. Modified appliances need a full test.

The plug has been replaced

This is more common than you might think — particularly with imported equipment that arrives with a non-UK plug. If a UK plug has been retrofitted (whether by the supplier or you), the appliance has effectively been modified and needs testing to confirm the new plug is correctly fitted.

Used or refurbished equipment marketed as "new"

"As new" or "refurbished" stock isn't actually new. It's been used, returned and resold. Treat it as second-hand for PAT testing purposes — full test before use.

Equipment from non-EU/UK sources

Equipment imported from outside the EU and UK may not have been built to the same safety standards. CE marking (or UKCA marking post-Brexit) gives some assurance, but for goods bought directly from overseas suppliers, a full test before use is sensible.

Critical-use appliances

In some environments — medical settings, food production, hazardous areas — the consequences of an undetected fault are severe enough that testing every piece of equipment before commissioning is standard practice, even if technically not required.

The formal visual inspection: what to actually check

Even when you don't run a full electrical test on a new appliance, the visual inspection isn't a five-second glance. It's a proper structured check covering:

The plug. Look for cracks, damage, signs of melting. On a non-moulded plug, check the cord grip is properly secured and the wires are correctly terminated. Check the fuse rating is appropriate for the appliance.

The cable. Run your hand along its full length. Look for cuts, abrasions, kinks, signs of crushing. Check that the cable enters the plug cleanly and exits the appliance cleanly with strain relief in both places.

The appliance casing. Cracks, missing screws, bent or damaged metalwork, signs of impact damage from transit.

Accessories and detachable leads. IEC leads, power supplies, power bricks — each needs its own visual inspection.

Documentation. Confirm the appliance has appropriate CE/UKCA marking, the rating plate is legible, and any included instructions or safety leaflets are present.

Appropriate use. Is the appliance suitable for the environment it'll be used in? An office printer being deployed to a damp warehouse is a problem regardless of whether the printer itself is fine.

The IET's Code of Practice is clear that this visual inspection is a real check — not a formality. Around 90% of PAT test failures across all appliance types are spotted visually rather than by the testing machine, and that ratio holds for new equipment too.

Recording new equipment

Every new appliance entering service should be added to your asset register with:

• A unique asset/identifier number
• Description of the appliance (make, model, serial)
• Date placed into service
• Result of the formal visual inspection
• Class (1 or 2)
• Location and assigned user
• Next scheduled testing date based on the appropriate interval

The next scheduled test follows the standard interval for that appliance class and environment — see our PAT testing frequency guide for the specifics.

The "in service from new" approach

Some organisations adopt a simpler policy: every new appliance gets a full PAT test on arrival regardless. There's no regulatory requirement to do this, but there are two practical reasons it can be worth doing:

1. Baseline data. Having a "from new" test reading for every appliance gives you a useful baseline to compare against in future tests. A reading that drifts significantly over time can indicate developing insulation problems before they cause an outright fail.
2. Asset register completeness. Testing every new arrival forces it onto the asset register at the moment it enters service, rather than waiting until the next testing round catches it. This avoids the scenario where an appliance has been in use for months without being recorded.

The cost of a single extra test per appliance is negligible if you're testing in-house. If you're outsourcing, it adds up — and the formal visual inspection-only approach is probably more sensible.

Second-hand equipment

Second-hand or used equipment is different from new. Anything that's previously been in service somewhere else should always be PAT tested before being put into use, regardless of how it was acquired:

• Appliances inherited from a previous office tenant
• Equipment bought at auction
• Donations to charities, schools or community organisations
• Equipment moved from a closing site to a continuing one
• Items returning from long-term storage

The previous test history may not be available, the equipment may have been damaged in storage, and there's no manufacturer's quality assurance to rely on. Treat all second-hand equipment as needing a full test before commissioning.

What about equipment from a closed or merged business?

When businesses close, merge or relocate, equipment often migrates between sites. The new owner inherits the asset, but doesn't always inherit the test history. The pragmatic approach:

• Run a full PAT test on every transferred item before it's put into service
• Treat the transfer date as the start of a new testing cycle
• Note in your records that the prior history is unverified

This avoids the awkward situation where an appliance is "in date" on paper but you have no actual record of when or how it was tested.

What about new appliances bought from a third-party retailer vs direct from manufacturer?

There's no formal distinction in the regulations, but in practice:

• Direct from manufacturer or authorised distributor: Higher confidence in quality control, full warranty, full traceability. Visual inspection only is appropriate.
• Third-party retailers, marketplaces, online resellers: Lower confidence in storage conditions, returns processing and supply chain integrity. Visual inspection plus consideration of a full test, particularly for safety-critical equipment.
• Online auction sites and marketplaces: Treat as second-hand. Full test before use.

Frequently asked questions

Do new appliances need PAT testing before first use?

Not a full combined test — only a formal visual inspection. New equipment is assumed safe from the manufacturer, but should still be checked for transit damage and added to the asset register before being put into service.

Do new electrical items need to be PAT tested?

Generally no — they need a formal visual inspection and entry into the testing register. They then receive a full PAT test at the next scheduled testing round, based on the standard interval for their class and environment.

How long after buying a new appliance does PAT testing apply?

The first full test happens at the standard interval for that appliance type — typically 12, 24 or 48 months depending on environment and class. See our PAT testing frequency guide for the breakdown.

Should second-hand appliances be PAT tested before use?

Yes, always. Second-hand equipment lacks the quality assurance of a new manufacturer despatch and may have been damaged in transit, storage or prior use. A full test before commissioning is the right approach.

Is PAT testing required on appliances that come with a CE or UKCA mark?

CE/UKCA marking covers compliance at the point of manufacture. It doesn't replace the need for in-service testing once the appliance is in use. New CE/UKCA-marked appliances still get the formal visual inspection on arrival and full testing at the standard interval thereafter.

The practical position

For most organisations, the straightforward policy is: new appliances get a formal visual inspection and go straight onto the asset register; second-hand appliances get a full PAT test before use.

If your team handles enough new equipment that it's worth doing properly, training somebody in-house through an accredited PAT testing course gives them the knowledge to do the visual inspection thoroughly and run the full test where it's warranted. It also avoids the "is this new arrival actually safe?" question being answered by guesswork.

The short answer remains: no, you don't need to fully test brand-new equipment. The slightly longer answer is: do it properly anyway. A few minutes of careful visual inspection — and an actual record of it — is the cheap insurance that pays for itself the first time something arrives damaged.