How to prepare for a PAT test
Twenty minutes of preparation makes the visit quicker, keeps the price accurate and stops anything being missed.
Before the visit: count what you have
Walk round room by room and count everything with a plug. The count sets the price, so an accurate one means no surprises on the day. Include the things people forget:
- extension leads and multi-way adaptors, which are tested as items in their own right
- the separate power leads on PCs and monitors (the kettle-style lead at the back), which are tested separately from the item they power
- chargers for laptops, phones, radios and power tools
- anything in cupboards, store rooms, sheds or vans
- seasonal kit such as fans, heaters and Christmas lights
- equipment staff bring from home and use at work
As a rough guide, one office desk is five to seven items, a staff kitchen is eight to twelve and a furnished rental is usually twelve to twenty. Up to 50 items is £50 all-in. Above that it is £50 for the first 50, then 80p an item to 200 and 70p beyond, so 120 items would be £106. The pricing page has the full list.
Decide what can be switched off, and when
Each item is unplugged for its test, usually for a minute or two. For most things that does not matter, but a few need planning:
- PCs and laptops: ask staff to save their work and shut down, or tell us which machines to leave until a quieter moment.
- Servers, network switches, alarm panels and phone systems: agree a time with whoever looks after them, or ask us to inspect them visually instead of switching them off.
- Fridges and freezers: a short unplug is fine, but tell us about anything holding stock or medicines so we test it first and plug it straight back in.
We work around people a few desks at a time, so nobody has to leave the building.
Make the plugs reachable
We need to get to the plug to test an item. Clearing the worst of the under-desk clutter saves time. We do not move heavy furniture or appliances on our own, and we do not dismantle built-in or fixed equipment. Anything we cannot safely reach is visually inspected and recorded that way on your certificate, so the report is clear about what was and was not tested. The full rules are in what we can and cannot test.
On the day
- Have someone to let us in and point out where everything is, including locked rooms and outbuildings.
- Tell us where to park, especially in town centres.
- Pick a spot for anything that fails, so it is kept out of use until it is repaired or replaced.
If an item fails, it gets a fail label and we tell you straight away. Many failures are a worn plug or the wrong fuse, which we can often fix on the spot. The repair is included, and any parts we fit are charged separately.
After the visit
Your PDF certificate and itemised report arrive by email the same day. Keep them somewhere you can find them when an insurer, landlord or inspector asks. About a month before your next test falls due, we email you a reminder with a link to rebook.
Between tests, quick user checks catch most problems early. HSE guidance says many faults can be found just by looking, and the user-check sheet below lists what to look for. For anything you buy between visits, see do new appliances need PAT testing?
Sources
Free downloads
Free to use, with no sign-up. Print them, edit them and share them with anyone who might find them useful.
Appliance register (Excel)
A ready-made register with one row per item: ID, location, class, check dates, results and when it is next due.
Download (XLSX, 20 KB)Appliance register (printable)
The same register as a printable A4 sheet, for sites that keep paper records or a clipboard by the kettle.
Download (PDF, 213 KB)User-check sheet
A one-page poster of the checks anyone can do before plugging something in, with a log for dates and initials.
Download (PDF, 212 KB)Common questions
How long does a PAT test take?
Once we are set up, most items take a minute or two each, so a small office or shop is usually done within a couple of hours. Larger sites take longer, and we work around you.
Do staff need to stop work?
No. We move through the building a few desks or rooms at a time. Each person only loses their equipment for a few minutes.
Will anyone lose work when their PC is tested?
Only if unsaved work is open when the machine is switched off. Ask staff to save and shut down, or we can test those machines at a time that suits them.
Related guides
Do new appliances need PAT testing?
HSE says new equipment should arrive safe and does not need a formal PAT test. What to check instead, and when testing a new item still makes sense.
Read the guideWhat a PAT certificate should show
The law does not require a PAT certificate, but insurers, agents and inspectors ask for one. What a useful record contains, and how to spot a weak one.
Read the guideExtension leads and adaptors: the items most likely to fail
Why extension leads and adaptors fail PAT tests more than anything else, how to avoid overloading them, and what HSE says about testing them.
Read the guideReady to get tested?
Pick a slot in the next four weeks, or send us the details for a date further out. It's a provisional booking, and one of the team will be in touch to confirm.