couple of pat testing questions

[sellers]

Hey guys, what pat tests can you do with an mft on class 2 equipment? Also do hard wired items need to be tested?

 

[matt.leung]

hard wired items do not need PAT testing, as they are not portable.

 

[Sidewinder]

matt,

You are correct. Hard wired items do NOT require PAT.

In fact NOTHING requires PAT to comply with statutory legislation.

However, fixed equipment as does all electrical equipment & systems require maintenance to ensure adequate safety to comply with EAWR89 & PUWER98.

How this is done is entirely up to the responsible person/duty holder.

PAT is an attempt at undertaking this, however, one a year is not adequate to comply for certain items, and is too often so as to be unnecessary in the eyes of many competent persons.

So in answers to Sellers Q.

They do not need PAT, but they must comply with statutory legislation.

HTH

Paul

 

[rugbymacc]

5.5 fixed equipment or appliances..... (iee code of practice for in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment)

""""" nothing about being portable""""

an item of fixed equipment or a fixed appliance is equipment that is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location,

eg central heating boiler,hand dryer,fixed air con unit,bathroom heater immersion heater or luminaire.

picture shows hand dryer connected to a switch..

i was told .... if safe to do so (and your competent) remove item from switch or fused spur and test item.

If none of the above can be met .... perform a formal visual inspection.

I could wrong !!! but i paid over

 

[Sidewinder]

rugbymacc,

I have the same book (& 3rd. ed.) & I have also done the 2 C&G courses. :Applaud

So you are correct in your statements, as far as that goes (I ain't checked, I'm trusting you! ) :Applaud

However his book is NOT statutory legislation. :_|

PAT is NOT statutory legislation. :innocent

THUS there is NO legal requirement for it to be undertaken. :_|

Check EAWR89 & PUWER98.

:coat

 

[Sidewinder]

Sellers,

Sorry just re-read your post!

I've never tried to do tests with an mft instead of a dedicated pat machine!

'spose ins R, continuity, though PAT earth bond can be at 25A, which you'll only get out of an mft on Z tets possibly?

Can't do leakage.

 

[rugbymacc]

very true sidewinder,

Alot insurance companies are now asking for it to be done before they will insure.

makes me lol, As it's really only good for that moment in time,

who knows what's going to happen to the item straight after you've tested it

 

[Sidewinder]

Ahhh,

Now that is a whole new can of worms!...

I have recently had a heated debate with some fellow IOSH members about this very topic!

The problem is the IET CoP is not JUST a one off snapshot in time test like an MOT it is actually a maintenance regime including other asoects.

HOWEVER, this has been lost in the mists of time by the PAT "brigade"...

My local chief HSE electrical inspector has strong views on the subject, or at least he did the last time we spoke!

He was the chair of my local IET group for a year & I was more active on the commitee at the time!

 

[rugbymacc]

Sellers,Sorry just re-read your post!

I've never tried to do tests with an mft instead of a dedicated pat machine!

'spose ins R, continuity, though PAT earth bond can be at 25A, which you'll only get out of an mft on Z tets possibly?

Can't do leakage.

another quote out of this bloody book :Spam2

15.6 the protective conductor/touch current test is an additional or complementary test to the IR test 15.5. for use if the IR test cannot be performed or gives suspect results

Right thats me done off for the rest of Dragons Den

 

[Riggy]

Sellers,Sorry just re-read your post!

I've never tried to do tests with an mft instead of a dedicated pat machine!

'spose ins R, continuity, though PAT earth bond can be at 25A, which you'll only get out of an mft on Z tets possibly?

Can't do leakage.

I'd re-read it again if I were you - Class 2! :innocent

 

[rugbymacc]

Ahhh,Now that is a whole new can of worms!...

I have recently had a heated debate with some fellow IOSH members about this very topic!

The problem is the IET CoP is not JUST a one off snapshot in time test like an MOT it is actually a maintenance regime including other asoects.

HOWEVER, this has been lost in the mists of time by the PAT "brigade"...

My local chief HSE electrical inspector has strong views on the subject, or at least he did the last time we spoke!

He was the chair of my local IET group for a year & I was more active on the commitee at the time!

Lets not open that can of worms

 

[Sidewinder]

Yep! Missed the class 2 bit in Sellers post!

TWICE!

Just read the rest!

OK smarty pants!... :Blushing

Yep class 2 you'd NOT use a 25A earth bond!

Well you could, but... ]

 

[nutsy]

5.5 fixed equipment or appliances..... (iee code of practice for in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment)""""" nothing about being portable""""

an item of fixed equipment or a fixed appliance is equipment that is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location,

eg central heating boiler,hand dryer,fixed air con unit,bathroom heater immersion heater or luminaire.

picture shows hand dryer connected to a switch..

i was told .... if safe to do so (and your competent) remove item from switch or fused spur and test item.

If none of the above can be met .... perform a formal visual inspection.

I could wrong !!! but i paid over