PAT Testing at Work: What Every UK Employer Needs to Know

If you employ anyone in the UK — even a single part-time staff member — workplace PAT testing is one of those background obligations that quietly turns into a serious problem if you ignore it. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 don't say "you must PAT test," but they do require you to keep electrical equipment safe, and PAT testing is the standard accepted way to demonstrate that.

This post is for employers and facilities managers who want a clear picture of what's actually required — not the salesman's pitch from a contractor, and not the vague "everything must be tested annually" myth. Here's what to test, how often, what records to keep, and how to set up a proper workplace PAT testing regime without overpaying.

The starting point: who's responsible

Workplace PAT testing responsibility sits with the employer. That's the duty holder under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

In practice, the employer typically delegates day-to-day responsibility to:

• A facilities manager or office manager
• A health and safety officer
• An external compliance contractor

But delegation doesn't transfer ultimate responsibility. If something goes wrong, the employer remains accountable.

For more on the legal background, see our post on PAT testing as a legal requirement.

What workplace appliances need testing

The general rule: every mains-powered electrical appliance used at work falls under your duty of care. That includes:

Office equipment

• Desktop PCs, monitors, laptops chargers, printers, photocopiers
• Phone chargers, tablet chargers
• Desk fans, desk lamps, plug-in heaters
• Shredders, label printers, scanners
• Projectors and AV equipment

For the specific testing approach for IT, see our PAT testing for IT equipment post.

Kitchen and break-room equipment

• Kettles, microwaves, toasters
• Fridges, freezers, dishwashers
• Coffee machines, water dispensers
• Vending machines

Cleaning equipment

• Vacuum cleaners
• Floor cleaners
• Pressure washers (where applicable)

Tools and workshop equipment

• Power tools (corded)
• Battery chargers for cordless tools
• Workshop lighting, inspection lamps
• Bench equipment

Heating, cooling and ventilation

• Plug-in heaters and fan heaters
• Portable air conditioners
• Dehumidifiers
• Office fans

Extension leads and adapters

• All extension leads (single, multi-way, reel)
• Multi-way socket adapters
• IEC kettle leads
• Travel adapters in business use

Building-fixed equipment with PAT scope

• Wall-mounted hand dryers (fixed appliances)
• Built-in extractor fans
• Fixed wall heaters (where plug-connectable)

For the full breakdown, see our post on what appliances need PAT testing.

What's NOT in scope

A few things commonly cause confusion:

• The fixed electrical installation (wiring, sockets, consumer unit) — covered by EICR, not PAT testing. See our PAT testing vs EICR comparison.
• Battery-only equipment — the charger gets tested, not the device
• Personal employee items — but only if they don't get used at work; if used at work, they fall under your duty
• Items in storage that aren't being used — exempt while in storage, must be tested before returning to service

The "personal items at work" question

Employees frequently bring their own appliances to work — kettles, fans, chargers, hairdryers. The legal reality is that any electrical equipment in use at work falls under your duty of care, regardless of who owns it.

The pragmatic approach is a clear policy:

1. Personal items must be PAT tested before being used at work
2. Either the employer tests them (typically free of charge), or staff arrange testing themselves

Untested personal items must be removed

Most employees don't realise this and are happy to comply once it's explained — particularly if you offer free testing as part of the regular round.

How often workplace PAT testing should be done

The single most important point: there is no universal "test annually" requirement. Frequency is risk-based, set by the IET Code of Practice and supported by HSE guidance. Standard intervals for typical office and commercial workplaces:

Appliance typeClass 1Class 2Handheld (kettles, drills, hairdryers)24 months48 monthsPortable (microwaves, desk fans)24 months48 monthsMovable (small fridges, desktop PCs)48 months48 monthsStationary (photocopiers, vending machines)48 months60 monthsFixed (wall-mounted hand dryers, fixed heaters)48 months60 monthsIT equipment (PCs, monitors, printers)48 months60 months

Higher-risk environments — kitchens, workshops, anywhere wet, dusty, hot or with frequent equipment movement — need tighter intervals. Construction sites for example require 3-monthly testing on handheld equipment. For full details, see our PAT testing frequency post.

In-house testing vs external contractor

The most cost-effective approach depends on your appliance count and number of sites.

External contractor makes sense when:

• You have fewer than ~50 appliances
• Single site
• Testing is genuinely once-every-2-years infrequent
• You don't have anyone with technical interest internally

Typical contractor cost: £1-2 per item, with minimum visit fees of £50-100. A 30-item office is usually £60-100 per visit.

In-house testing makes sense when:

• 50+ appliances
• Multiple sites
• Complex or sensitive equipment (servers, lab equipment) where you want internal control
• Frequent appliance changes (high-turnover environment)
• Existing maintenance staff who could absorb the role

Typical setup cost: £150-250 for a one-day accredited PAT testing course, £400-800 for a tester. Total ~£550-1,050. Recoverable within the first testing round for most mid-sized businesses.

The middle ground that works for many: train an in-house tester for routine work, but bring in a contractor every 5 years for an "audit" round to provide independent verification.

Setting up a workplace PAT testing regime

Step 1: Build your asset register

Walk through every space — every desk, every kitchen, every storeroom — and list every appliance. Note location, class, type, and any visible issues.

A typical UK office has 3-5 testable items per employee once you count chargers, leads, kettles, communal kitchen items, etc. So a 50-employee office is typically 150-250 items.

Step 2: Categorise by environment and risk

If you have a single low-risk office, intervals are simple. If you have mixed environments — office plus kitchen plus workshop — different items need different intervals.

Step 3: Decide on testing approach

In-house, contractor, or hybrid. Get costs for each option for your specific premises and asset count.

Step 4: Implement the testing

First round establishes the baseline — every item visually inspected and electrically tested, asset IDs assigned, records created.

Step 5: Maintain ongoing records

Every test, every change, every failure gets recorded. See our record sheet template post for structure.

Step 6: Review the regime annually

At least once a year, review whether the testing intervals are still appropriate given changes to your premises, equipment, or operations.

What inspectors and insurers actually look for

If a workplace incident involves electrical equipment, the standard questions from HSE inspectors and insurers are:

1. Show me your PAT testing records
2. Show me the calibration certificate for the tester used
3. Show me the qualifications of the person who did the testing
4. Was the appliance involved within its testing interval?
5. What's your retesting frequency rationale?

A good regime has clear answers to all five. A weak regime fumbles at question 5 ("we just test everything annually because that's what we always have").

Common workplace PAT testing mistakes

Testing everything annually

Wastes money and contractor time. Standard office IT and stationary equipment is on 48-60 month intervals. Annual testing of every item is far beyond the IET-recommended frequency for most offices.

Outsourcing without retaining records

Many businesses hand the entire testing function to a contractor and never retain copies of the records themselves. When the contractor changes, the records are effectively lost.

Always keep copies of all records — certificates, asset registers, test results — in your own systems. The contractor is providing a service; the records are yours.

Forgetting "back office" appliances

The kettle in the directors' office. The dehumidifier in the basement that runs continuously. The printer in the storage cupboard nobody opens. The asset register needs to be genuinely complete, not just covering the obvious public-facing equipment.

Not testing employee personal items

Personal kettles, chargers and fans are often the highest-risk appliances in a workplace because they bypass the formal regime. Either test them (recommended) or have a clear policy banning untested personal equipment.

Treating EICR as covering appliances

The EICR is the test of the fixed installation (wiring, sockets, consumer unit). PAT testing covers plug-in appliances. Both are needed; neither covers the other.

What about home workers?

Hybrid and remote working has created new questions for workplace PAT testing. The legal position:

• Equipment provided by the employer for home use (laptops, monitors, chargers, desk lamps) remains under the employer's duty of care
• Equipment owned by the employee in their own home is the employee's responsibility
• The grey area is employer-provided equipment used in the employee's home alongside their own equipment — testing of the employer-provided items is the employer's duty, but the testing logistics are awkward

In practice, most employers handle this by either:

1. Asking employees to bring employer-provided equipment to the office for periodic testing
2. Sending equipment back to the office on a rotating schedule

Engaging a contractor that visits home workers for testing

Tax and reasonable accommodation rules can apply — get HR advice on the specifics if you're starting from scratch.

Frequently asked questions

Is PAT testing required for offices?

Not by name in any specific law, but the duty to maintain safe electrical equipment under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 effectively requires it. PAT testing is the standard accepted method.

How often should office equipment be PAT tested?

Most office IT and stationary equipment is on a 48-60 month interval. Handheld and portable items (kettles, microwaves, desk fans) are on 24-48 month intervals depending on class. Annual testing isn't required for most office equipment.

Who is responsible for workplace PAT testing?

The employer, as duty holder under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. The employer can delegate the operational task to facilities, an in-house tester, or a contractor — but ultimate responsibility remains with the employer.

Can a small business avoid PAT testing?

Even single-employee businesses have duties under the Electricity at Work Regulations. The frequency might be very low (most office items on 48-60 month cycles) but the obligation exists. Many small businesses find that one round of testing every few years is all that's needed.

Do home workers need their work equipment PAT tested?

Yes — equipment supplied by the employer remains under the employer's duty of care regardless of where it's used. The logistics are awkward but the obligation is the same as for in-office equipment.

What's the fine for not PAT testing in a workplace?

There's no specific "PAT testing fine" — but breaches of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 or the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 can lead to unlimited fines and, in serious cases, criminal prosecution. The more common real-world consequence is insurance claim refusal after an incident.

Can I do my own workplace PAT testing?

Yes, if you're a competent person — typically demonstrated through an accredited PAT testing course. For mid-sized workplaces (50+ appliances), training an in-house tester usually pays for itself within the first testing round.

The takeaway

Workplace PAT testing isn't optional, but it isn't as onerous as contractors often suggest. Most office equipment is on a 4-5 year retest cycle. Annual testing of everything is rarely required by the actual regulations — and is rarely the most cost-effective approach.

For mid-sized employers, training an in-house tester through a one-day accredited PAT testing course gives full control over the regime, eliminates the cost of repeat contractor visits, and produces better-quality records than most external services. For smaller employers, a single contractor visit every 2-5 years is usually all that's needed.

Either way: build a complete asset register, set risk-based testing intervals, keep proper records, and retest at the appropriate frequency. That's the workplace PAT testing regime in full.