Toe,

I should be I&T'd, yes.
Your average PA tester is not competent to do it.
Why are the FRS suggesting testing and at what frequency?
Why would you undertake a full intrusive I&T on something that is competently installed (it is isn't it), meets the requirements of the relevant product standards and is not disturbed for years on end.
The crux of the issue is the time scale.

Have to agree with FS101 - the problem lies in the description. Is the appliance portable or fixed? To explain we have a standard sized vending machine for drinks hard wired that comes under Statutory Fixed Wiring Inspection and a similarly sized snack machine (so only portable by two or three able bodies) with a standard 3 pin plug on our PAT list. Same in the laboratory small appliances on 3 pin and fridges hard wired I could lift on my own (and I am not a Charles Atlas... damned really giving my age away). IMHO "portable" indicates it can be relocated without specialist tools, skills or experience - moving a hard wired appliance needs tools, skills, experience OR a wanton disregard for either personal safety or the safety of others.

Paul - do you work for the HSE? In one breathe you say yes it should be done then in another why would you do it!!

Could it be that U are using domestic appliances in an industrial setting for which they are not designed that gives the fire people a concern as it would me hence they want something doing?

Just a thought

As the OP stated the ACOP states that fixed wiring applainces need testing and we all know the legal status of an ACOP. Who is competent to do this testing ? Would be the crux of ths issue for me. For those of you without access to the ACOP feel free to check out the link below for confirmation.

www.theiet.org/factfiles...hsb34c-page.cfm?type=pdf

I don't believe that the IET ISITEE os an ACoP, it is a CoP yes, an ACoP, I don't believe it is.

The assessment must be down to your risk assessment.
This must be done by a competent person.

The C&G "PAT" courses to not equip a tester to disconnect and re-connect fixed appliances competently to the fixed installation.

I would refer you also to the IET CoP for Electrical Safety Management.

Toe, yes I agree that post was a little contradictory and unclear.
Sorry.

The equipment must be I&T'dm, annually by a PA tester, I doubt it.
It is fixed equipment.
The chances of damage must be considered, as has been suggested elsewhere.
A vacuum cleaner used by cleaning staff, or an angle grinder used on a construction site perhaps a full I&T every 3 months, quite possibly.
A server in a dedicated comms room. Never? Perhaps...

A £1M machine tool in a factory, never perhaps?...

A fixed industrial "domestic type" appliance in a care home...

Now the persons using this device are instructed and trained.
They are responsible for reporting any defects immediately that they are found.
They are trained in user checks, they must be to comply with statute law.
The equipment is maintained and repaired by competent staff, and all repairs are undertaken in accordance with the manufacturers maintenance and repair instructions.

So, thoughts now...

Sorry no time tonight to develop this any more.

I'll try to look in tomorrow.

May I shed some more light on my dilemma. This is a registered care home for mental health, and it consists of 10 self contained flats, each person/flat has an integrated and fixed wired fridge and dishwasher built into the kitchen units, so in effect we have domestic 10 fringes and 10 dishwashers in the whole care home.

Our FRA (and policies) state that portable electrical equipment gets PAT annually and fixed wiring 5 yearly.

Ian - Because this is a care home we cannot (under the FSO) make our own rules, as there are minimum standards that a care homes must meet (note we are in Scotland).

I have to respond to the Fire Officer, and need to either do the following;

1. Get our PAT company to conduct a PAT on the equipment, despite them stating its part of fixed wiring testing, or
2. Argue to the F&RS that the equipment does not need tested until 5 years.

Any/all your help in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Ian has posted and referred to the FSO, I was making it clear to him that we are in Scotland. For those that do-not know Scotland has different Fire Laws that the rest of the UK.

Would it not be simple if portable appliances were PAT, hard wired appliances were fixed and checked every 5 years.

Washing machines do cause fires but usually through careless use. i.e. stacking/piling up clothes against the machine while it is in use, is one example, nothing to do with the electrics.

Good point Jay, also Tumble Dryers can be a product of fires when towels used in certain therapeutic processes (scented oily stuff) that need a hot wash but don't get the high enough temperature wash and go into the dryer that heats the towels higher than the ignition point of the oils.

Where is Flashman when you need him?

Excellent Paul, I will PM you my e-mail details, you expert advice is greatly appreciated.