Do I need PAT testing?
Yes — but not the way it is usually sold. What the law actually asks of you, how to prove you are meeting it, the two-year cycle that satisfies the IET Code, what it should cost, and what you should not be sold.
Looking for the technical detail? Read the version for professionals → IET Code of Practice 5th Edition, in-service inspection methodology, and risk-based testing intervals.
Do I need it for my business? Yes.
Why? The law makes you responsible for electrical safety and for keeping your equipment maintained. PAT testing is a cheap, effective safety measure, and it's the simplest way to show you're doing everything reasonably practicable.
Does the law say I must do it? No. It says you must maintain electrical equipment so it doesn't cause danger. It doesn't say how. But if you're not testing, ask yourself: how will you prove it instead?
Where people get ripped off is not on whether to do it. It's on how much, how often, and at what price. That's what the rest of this page is about.
What the law actually requires
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (regulation 4(2)) require that electrical systems and equipment are maintained, so far as reasonably practicable, so that they do not cause danger. That applies to every employer and self-employed person in England, Wales and Scotland, from day one.
That is the whole duty: maintain safely. It does not say "carry out PAT testing", "test every item", "test annually" or "hold a certificate".
- PAT testing as a named activity
- Any fixed interval, annual or otherwise
- Testing brand-new equipment before first use
- A certificate or sticker
HSE says this plainly in its own guidance: there is no legal requirement to PAT test, and no legal requirement for annual testing.
Insurance policies, commercial leases, tender questionnaires and accreditation schemes frequently ask for evidence of electrical maintenance, and some ask specifically for PAT records. That's a contractual requirement, not a legal one. Read the actual wording. It rarely says "annual PAT of everything".
Northern Ireland: the equivalent duty is in the Electricity at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991. Same position in substance.
Why "yes" is still the right answer
If something goes wrong, a fire, an electric shock, an insurance claim, the question you'll be asked is: what did you do to maintain your equipment?
"Nothing, because the law doesn't say PAT" is not an answer anyone wants to give to an HSE inspector, an insurer or a solicitor. A test record and a certificate from a competent person is. It costs a few pounds per item and it's the evidence trail that most clearly shows a reasonable employer doing a reasonable thing.
So the buyer's decision isn't whether. It's how much, how often, and what it costs. Get those right and PAT is one of the cheapest lines on your compliance budget. Get them wrong and it's one of the most padded.
What a proportionate programme looks like
You need two layers. Both of them. Neither replaces the other.
Layer 1: your own visual checks, always
Staff look at equipment before they use it: damaged cable, cracked casing, scorch marks, loose or overheating plug, taped-up repairs. Anything that fails the look is taken out of use and reported. A named person in your business keeps a simple note of what was found and what was done.
This costs nothing, it catches most faults before they hurt anyone, and it's what HSE expects every employer to be doing regardless of any testing regime. It is not optional and it is not a substitute for Layer 2.
Layer 2: formal inspection and testing by a competent engineer, always
This is the safety net and the proof. A competent engineer inspects and tests the equipment, records the results against an asset register, and issues a certificate. That certificate is what your insurer, landlord, client or an inspector will actually ask to see.
Should I buy a tester and do this myself? You can, in law. In practice, don't. You're not paying for someone to press a button on a tester. You're paying for someone who recognises what a damaged or unsafe appliance looks like, knows which failures matter, and puts their name on a certificate that shows a safety measure has been taken by someone competent to take it. A DIY test with no engineer's name on it is weaker evidence when it counts, and for a few pounds an item the saving isn't worth the exposure.
How often: the two-year cycle
Most ordinary commercial premises (offices, shops, salons, hotels, small workshops) don't need everything tested every year. The IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th edition) gives risk-based starting intervals. For an office they are broadly: Class I (earthed) equipment a full test every 24 months with a formal visual inspection every 12; Class II (double-insulated) equipment up to 48 months. For commercial kitchens and hotels, Class I equipment every 12 months.
A cycle that sits inside that guidance, and that you can ask any contractor to follow:
Year 1: full combined inspection and test of every appliance. This builds your asset register: every item, its class, its location, its result. Without the register you can't manage anything.
Year 2: formal visual inspection of everything, plus a full test of the higher-risk items. Kitchen equipment, hand-held tools, anything with a damage history, anything the engineer flagged last time.
Year 3: back to Year 1.
Why it's built that way. The legal duty is "maintain to prevent danger", not "test annually". The alternating cycle keeps every item under formal inspection every year and under full test at least every two, which is what the Code asks for ordinary commercial premises. The annual full test of the high-risk items covers the kitchen and hand-tool cases where the Code wants 12 months. It is also the honest answer to the "every year, everything, £3 an item" model most of the trade runs, which the Code does not require.
What the cycle doesn't cover. It's a fixed cycle, not a per-appliance risk assessment. A construction site, a hire fleet or equipment in a genuinely harsh environment can need three-monthly tests, and that needs a programme designed for it, not this one.
Ask your engineer to set the interval on the certificate. If you run a commercial kitchen, or have items that should be tested more often than the cycle above, ask the engineer to specify the shorter interval for those items on the certificate. A good contractor will do this without being asked. One who can't explain why an item needs testing more often is guessing, or selling.
What it should cost
Typically £1 to £3 per item for the test, with most contractors applying a minimum charge of around £50 to £150 per visit. A 40-item office is usually a £60 to £150 visit in a full-test year, and less in a visual year. If you're quoted materially more, ask what you're paying for.
What you shouldn’t be sold
- "PAT testing is a legal requirement." It isn't. A supplier who opens with this is either mistaken or selling.
- Full testing of everything, every year, by default. The Code doesn't ask for it in ordinary premises. Ask why your contractor does.
- Testing new equipment before first use. New equipment from a reputable manufacturer doesn't need testing before it goes into service. A visual check and a register entry are enough.
- Plug and fuse replacements at inflated prices. Some contractors charge £5 to £15 per swap. Ask for the price per replacement before the visit and cap it.
- "Failed" items with no explanation. Ask for the reason and the reading. A fail should be specific.
- A visit with no asset register. If you don't get a list of every item tested, with its result, you've paid for stickers.
Check what else your business needs
PAT is one small part of electrical safety. Your fixed wiring (EICR), your fire risk assessment and your general risk assessment matter far more. Run the Compliance Check to see what applies to your premises.
Sources
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, regulation 4 — legislation.gov.uk
- HSE INDG236, Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments — hse.gov.uk
- HSE HSG107, Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment — hse.gov.uk
- HSE, Portable appliance testing FAQs — hse.gov.uk
- IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition (2020), Table 7.1 initial frequencies
- Electricity at Work Regulations (Northern Ireland) 1991
Quick answers
- Is PAT testing a legal requirement in the UK?
- No. The law requires you to maintain electrical equipment so it does not cause danger. It does not name PAT testing, set an interval, or require a certificate. PAT testing is the recognised way of proving you have met that duty.
- How often should I PAT test my equipment?
- Not annually by default. For ordinary commercial premises a two-year cycle works: a full test of everything in year one, a formal visual inspection of everything plus a full test of the higher-risk items in year two. Kitchens, hand tools and anything with a damage history are tested every year. Construction sites and hire equipment need a shorter, purpose-designed programme.
- Can I do PAT testing myself?
- Your own visual checks, yes, and you should be doing them anyway. The formal inspection and test, in law you can, but in practice do not. You are paying for someone who knows what an unsafe appliance looks like and puts their name on a certificate. That is the evidence that counts.
- What should PAT testing cost?
- Typically £1 to £3 per item with a minimum charge of around £50 to £150 per visit. A 40-item office is usually a £60 to £150 visit in a full-test year. If you are quoted much more, ask what you are paying for.
- What's the difference between PAT testing and an EICR?
- PAT testing is for plug-in equipment. An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) checks the fixed wiring of the building. They cover different things and most businesses need both.
This is general information about UK compliance, written for the person paying the bill. It isn’t legal advice. If your situation is unusual, get a professional to look at it.