Types of equipment that need PAT testing
Several different types of electrical equipment are defined in the IEE Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment including:
Portable appliances
A portable appliance is an appliance of not more than 18kg in mass that is intended to be moved while in operation or an appliance that can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. toaster, food mixer, kettle.
Movable/Transportable appliances
An item of movable equipment is equipment that is either 18kg or less in mass and not fixed, e.g. an electric compressor, or equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use, e.g. air-conditioning unit.
Hand-held appliances or equipment
A hand-held appliance or equipment is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, e.g. angle grinder, power drill, hedge-cutter, soldering iron, iron, hairdryer.
Stationary equipment or appliances
An item of stationary equipment or a stationary appliance is equipment that has a mass exceeding 18kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator, washing machine (Figure 5.6) or dishwasher.
Fixed equipment or appliances
An item of fixed equipment or a fixed appliance is equipment that is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specified location, e.g. central heating boiler, hand dryer, fixed air-conditioning unit, bathroom heater, electric towel rail, immersion heater or luminaire.
Appliances or equipment for building-in
An appliance or equipment for building-in is equipment intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general, equipment for building-in does not have an enclosure on all sides, e.g. a built-in electric cooker.
Information technology equipment
Information technology (IT) equipment includes electrical business equipment such as computers and mains powered telecommunications equipment, and other equipment for general business use,such as mail processing machines, electric plotters, trimmers, VDUs, data terminal equipment, typewriters, telephones, printers, photocopiers and power packs.
Extension leads and RCD extension leads
An extension lead is necessary where an item of equipment needs to be supplied but a convenient socket-outlet is not available. An RCD extension lead is an extension lead that includes an RCD.
Multiway adaptors and RCD adaptors
Multiway adapters and cube adaptors are used when there are not sufficient socket-outlets available. RCD adaptors are used to provide protection for persons using portable equipment, particularly for persons using portable equipment outdoors.