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Posted By DG Richardson
Could anybody tell me when you are required to carry out the first PAT on an item of equipment?
Do you need to test equipment that has been newly purchased or does the CE cetificate of comformity act as the initial confirmation.
The reason for asking is because our IT department have purchased 20 new monitors and our facilities department state that they cannot be used until they have been PAT tested. In which case, the new monitors are sitting in a storage area waiting for the contractor to come onsite to carry out the testing.
I have look through the guidance notes that i have on PAT testing but can't find any definative guidance or regulation on this issue.
Any help would be great.
Thanks
Dave
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Posted By David P. Johnson
CE marking is no guarantee of conformity, it is simply the case that the manufacturer 'states' it conforms.
I personally would PAT test any item of electrical equipment before initial use. A great deal of damage can occur in transit.
On that note, have you considered qualifying someone in-house to do your PAT testing? City and Guilds do a short course for this purpose.
David
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Posted By gham
train someone in house, and IT member of staff and buy a PAT tester, this will cost less that getting a man in cause you need to do it on a frequent basis and keep records so it will no doubt pay for itself very quickly.
And of course you don't have to wait for the man to come a PAT test your equipment.
Regarding the transit comment all the equipment should be tested before leaving the manf. and should work fine in most cases testing again is obviously and extra precaution. Also a PAT test for portable equipment is only as good as the day it was done
G'
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Posted By Nikki Browett
PAT testing is not a legal requirement, just an urban myth. As previously states it only shows the item was safe at the time of testing and therefore doesn't actually comply with the Regs, which require all electrical equipment to be safe, full stop.
Usual RA apply. What environment, how often used etc. Regular visual checks on cables etc are a must no matter how old the equipment.
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Posted By Bill Waddy Dave Came across the same problem myself a couple of months ago, check out the following download at www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf. Cheers Bill
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Posted By Neville
I once had a chap PAT test my electrical appliances in a house that I rent out, furnished at that time. He passed everything but the brand new washing machine which he had concerns over.
When I asked him what the problem was he retorted that there may be something wrong with it like water in the system! I kindly reminded him that it was indeed a washing machine and therefore needed to have water in it to work!!
Begrudgingly, he passed it and more than eight years on, it is still running strong after various tenants useage. All this after having it PAT tested year on year and it always passing.
PS. Manufacturers nearly always test their machines prior to despatch, I believe so will have traces of water in them.
PPS. No its not a Miele, it is just an Indesit
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Posted By Paul Bellis
?
why are you testing the monitors at all? -they are douple insulated and do not requite testing -inspecting yes and then only infrequently?!
see HSG 107 and leaflet INDG 236
if you do subject them to a portable appliance tester -you will blow them up! (Well bamage the electronics anyway).
if you want an inspection procedure let me know
Paul
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Posted By Nigel Singleton BSc
Careful Paul
Not all monitors are class 2. (double insulated)
Besides the IEE code of practice states that IT equipment DOES need to be PAT tested in certain cases e.g. schools and items used by the public.
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Posted By Martin J Morley
It seems to me that your facilities department has laid down your requirement for PA testing; whether this matches or defines the company policy is the more relevant issue.
As has already been stated, CE marking is no guarantee of conformity, any more than all of the other 'conformities' moulded into the casing. It has also been stated that equipment will have been tested before despatch.
How then was it possible to receive a batch of monitors which had a hole through the casing which allowed a normal sized finger to touch one of the internal cicuit boards?
Whilst there are issues around the testing of electronic equipment and tvs/monitors, there are procedures for testing that do not damage them.
Perhaps a more fruitful area for discussion is the apparent differences between the IEE guidance, which
understandably still calls for testing, and HSG 107 which doesn't really seem to expect any serious testing regime.
The thrust of this guidance is for formal visual inspections - by trained operators!
Is this going to provide an adequate control of the risks involved?
martin
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Posted By Ken Taylor
It's probably just the power leads that could do with PAT testing - or, at least inspection by a competent person in the meantime.
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