If you are in charge of an office, then electrical testing is not a mere formality. This helps to minimise the chances of a fire, prevents downtime and also signals how seriously you are taking safety. What gets tested, to an extent, depends on what kind of testing package you book, but the most common type of office electrical safety work falls into two main categories, which are portable appliance testing (PAT) and fixed wiring condition report, otherwise known as Electric Installation Condition Report(EICR).
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT): What Is Tested?
PAT is primarily concerned with plug-in equipment used by staff on a daily basis. Typical items include:
Laptops, monitors and desktop PCs with a docking station
Phone chargers and power supplies
Kitchen items: kettles, microwaves and fridges
Extension leads and multiway adapters
Printers, shredders and desk fans
In a PAT inspection test, an electrician would typically:
Inspect it visually (plugs that are damaged and torn, cable sheath destroyed, soldered conductor scorched)
Fuse rating in the plug. For Electrical Testing Cheltenham, contact https://www.blu-fish.co.uk/electrical-services-cheltenham/electrical-testing-cheltenham
You are accountable for:
Test: earth continuity and insulation resistance (depending on equipment class)
Pass/fail label/state of an item – record whether packed/damaged/unopened
Fixed Wiring Testing (EICR) – What It Measures
A fixed wiring test is part of the design. At an office, that would usually look like:
Consumers Unit/Distribution Board (Condition, devices for protection and markings)
RCD protection (if fitted and working)
Earthing and bonding (important safety issue – common reason for non-compliance in older properties)
Condition, polarity and signs of overheating for sockets and switches
Main circuits (Lighting and emergency lighting feeds where appropriate)
Cable (look for structural corrosion, damage or bad cabling route in exposed areas)
Circuit load (overloaded circuits and circuit imbalances)
The electrician will do both a visual and a utility test to ensure that the fitting is safe to be used.
Testing is ready to identify common workplace problems, such as:
Connecting every gadget under the sun to overloaded extension leads and daisy-chained adapters.
Worn out or loose sockets from frequent use
Inadequate RCD protection
DIY modifications (mostly in example office units)
What you’ll receive afterwards:
This will include a written report (and details of any remedial work) and either a pass/fail sticker for PAT-tested items. However, to reduce this inconvenience, make sure you have your testing during out-of-hours and provide a room-by-room plan.
