PAT testing (Portable Appliance Testing) is the inspection of plug-in electrical equipment to confirm it's safe to use. While there's no specific legal frequency, the Health and Safety at Work Act and Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations both require employers and landlords to keep equipment safe.
Insurance companies typically require annual PAT testing for commercial premises and HMOs. Standard rentals often need it every 2-5 years depending on the asset type. We'll advise on what your situation needs.
Standard pricing: £75 minimum visit fee, then £1.50-£2.50 per item depending on volume. A typical small office (30-50 items) is around £120-200 total. A small retail unit, ~£200-350. Larger volumes negotiable.
How it works
Common questions
How often do I need to PAT test?
No legal frequency, but typical insurance/regulatory expectations: offices = annually for high-risk items, every 2-4 years for low-risk. Retail = annually. HMOs = annually. Construction sites = quarterly for tools. We can advise based on your insurer's wording.
Are you certified to do this?
Yes. We're NICEIC registered, and PAT testing falls within standard electrical contractor competence. Our test equipment is calibrated annually.
What about double-insulated appliances (Class II)?
Class II appliances (those with the square-in-square symbol) are tested for insulation resistance only — not earth bond. Modern computers, phone chargers, kitchen appliances are mostly Class II.
Can you do bulk discount for many items?
Yes. £1.50 per item is our standard rate, dropping to £1.25 over 100 items, £1.00 over 250. Recurring annual contracts get further discount.
Does PAT testing cover fixed wiring?
No — that's an EICR. PAT testing covers plug-in equipment only. Fixed wiring (sockets, lights, the consumer unit) needs a separate EICR every 5 years for landlords or 10 years for owner-occupiers.
Do you do out-of-hours testing for offices?
Yes — we'll work evenings or weekends to avoid disrupting your business. Out-of-hours rate adds 25% to the per-item cost but no minimum-visit increase.