"Every 12 months" is a myth. The right interval depends on the equipment, how it's used and where. Here's a practical way to decide.
How often is PAT testing needed?
There's no fixed legal interval. Here's how to set a sensible one for your premises, and save money doing it.
What the law actually says
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause danger to be maintained so it doesn't. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 say much the same for work equipment generally. Neither sets a testing interval, and neither uses the term "PAT testing". HSE's position is that the frequency of inspection and testing should be based on risk.
So the legal question isn't "have you tested every 12 months?" but "have you done enough to keep the equipment safe, and can you show it?"
The three levels of checks
- User checks: anyone using equipment glancing at the plug, flex and casing before use. They cost nothing and find a lot.
- Formal visual inspection: a trained person removing the plug cover, checking the fuse and cord grip, and recording it. Most faults are found here.
- Combined inspection and testing: the electrical tests (earth continuity, insulation, polarity) that find faults you can't see.
Good maintenance means using all three, with testing less often than inspection.
Suggested starting intervals
| Environment / equipment | Formal visual inspection | Combined inspection and test |
|---|---|---|
| Office IT, monitors, desk equipment | 1–2 years | Every 2–4 years, or not at all for some Class II items |
| Office kettles, heaters, extension leads | 6–12 months | 1–2 years |
| Shops and hospitality front of house | 6–12 months | 1–2 years |
| Commercial kitchens | 3–6 months | 6–12 months |
| Salons and barbers (hand-held) | 3–6 months | 6–12 months |
| Rented homes (supplied appliances) | Each change of tenancy | Each change of tenancy, or yearly in HMOs |
| Schools (classroom equipment) | Yearly | 1–4 years depending on use |
| Construction sites, 110 V tools | Weekly user checks | Every 3 months |
| Hire equipment | Before each hire | Before each hire, or on a short cycle |
These are starting points based on the IET Code of Practice approach and HSE guidance. Adjust them using your results: if nothing fails over two cycles, you can usually extend; if a lot fails, shorten.
Things that need more frequent checks
- Equipment that is moved around, plugged and unplugged a lot;
- Hand-held equipment, especially with heating elements;
- Anything used outdoors, in wet areas or in kitchens;
- Extension leads and multi-way adaptors;
- Equipment used by the public or by people unlikely to report damage.
Keeping records
The law doesn't require a register, but it's the easiest way to show you're managing the risk, and insurers, licensing officers and event organisers often ask for one. A good register lists each item, its location, its class, the result and the next due date. Ours does exactly that. See our PAT testing service.
Questions people ask
Is yearly PAT testing a legal requirement?
Do Class II (double insulated) items need testing?
Do landlords need PAT testing every year?
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