Landlords' Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland - Association of ...

APPENDIX D:
Further information relating to
portable appliance testing
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)
As you are required to ensure that all appliances such as electric kettles, fridges and
washing machines provided as part of a tenancy agreement are safe, we recommend
that you have these appliances tested by a registered electrician at the beginning of
each tenancy and at regular intervals during any long term tenancies.
The checks that need to be carried out by a registered electrician will include:
checking that the connections inside the plug are correct and secure;
that the fuse inside the plug is of the correct rating;
that no bare wires are visible other than at the terminals inside the plug and
appliance; and
there is no sign of internal damage, overheating or entry of liquids, dust or dirt.
The electrician will normally use a portable appliance test instrument to check the
electrical characteristics of the electrical appliance. This type of tester is capable of
carrying out a series of tests on an appliance, including tests for continuity and
insulation resistance. Testing should be carried out by properly trained and
experienced operatives, which is why we recommend a registered electrician be
employed to carry out this work. See Section 8 ‘Finding an Electrician’ of this booklet.
Frequency of portable appliance testing
There are no specific legal requirements relating to the frequency of inspections and
tests of electrical equipment (such as portable appliances). A risk assessment needs to
be made in relation to the type of equipment, the users of electrical equipment and
the environment in which the equipment is used. The Code of Practice for In-Service
Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (ISITEE) provides information relating to inservice
inspection and testing of electrical equipment. The Health and Safety Executive
document INDG236 Maintaining portable electrical equipment in offices and other low-risk
environments is another useful source of information when considering the safety of
electrical equipment.
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The Electrical Safety Council Landlords’ Guide to Electrical Safety in Scotland