Most of us tend to take electrical equipment for granted. We plug it in, it works and we don’t give it a second thought. But in a work environment electrical devices not only need to work, they need to be safe too.

If your premises are open to the public – pubs, shops, theatres, schools, clubs, surgeries, etc – then your electrical appliances should be inspected annually to ensure that you meet your statutory obligations. All electrical equipment that’s installed in places of work needs to meet the requirements of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.

What Electrical Testing Covers
Electrical testing should cover all of the fixed installations in a building. This means sockets, light fittings, cables and so on, as well as any fixed plant and equipment such as air conditioning systems or powered doors.

There’s also a requirement for portable appliance testing (PAT), which means anything with a plug attached to it, from computers, copiers and shredders to the office kettle. These need to be checked with a device known as a PAT tester which performs straightforward tests on things like earthing and insulation.

Tests are required for industrial and commercial premises, but many homeowners choose to have them done too. If you’re selling your house this can be a good way of proving to potential buyers that the electrical systems have been checked.

What to Expect from a Tester
It’s common for most businesses to outsource electrical testing to us, MK Electrics. As well as a visual check to ensure that there’s no damage, testers should also check the continuity of circuits, earthing and polarity. They should also check that any residual current circuit breakers trip at the correct current rating.

At the conclusion of the tests you should be provided with a record of what’s been done and the results for your files.