Portable appliance testing

In <a href="/facts/Electrical_safety_testing/4qyfhmyW">electrical safety testing</a>, portable appliance testing (PAT inspection or PAT testing) is a process by which electrical appliances are routinely checked for safety, commonly used in the <a href="/facts/United_Kingdom/kuPAILt2">United Kingdom</a>, <a href="/facts/Ireland/35vYxXdP">Ireland</a>, <a href="/facts/New_Zealand/4mpSlJdg">New Zealand</a> and <a href="/facts/Australia/qLHpbppq">Australia</a>. In Australia and New Zealand it is commonly known as Test and Tag. The formal term for the process is In-service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment.
Testing involves a <a href="/facts/Visual_inspection/rtmk7J7Q">visual inspection</a> of the equipment and verification that power cables are in good condition. Additionally, other tests may be done when required, such as a verification of <a href="/facts/Earthing_system/9zWc9fBJ">earthing</a> (grounding) <a href="/facts/Continuity_test/8V1k29zg">continuity</a>, a test of the soundness of <a href="/facts/Insulator_(electricity)/SfSXkrh5">insulation</a> between the <a href="/facts/Electric_current/Dc1xdnUX">current</a>-carrying parts, and a check for any exposed metal that could be touched. The formal limits for a pass/<a href="/facts/Fail/hhLBhlhN">fail</a> of these electrical tests vary somewhat depending on the category of equipment being tested.
Other countries have similar procedures, for example, testing of equipment according to DGUV Vorschrift 3 in <a href="/facts/Germany/paluuWBX">Germany</a>.

Portable appliance testing open-in-new

Portable appliance testing