Electrical equipment is everywhere in UK workplaces — from handheld power tools on construction sites to desktop computers in offices, from catering appliances in commercial kitchens to medical devices in care homes. All of it carries some level of electrical risk, and UK law places clear duties on employers to manage that risk through inspection, testing, and documented maintenance. Yet electrical equipment asset management remains one of the most inconsistently applied compliance areas in British industry.
The Legal Duties
The primary legislation governing electrical equipment safety at work is the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. These require that all electrical systems — including equipment — are maintained in a safe condition. The regulations do not specify testing intervals or methods; instead, they impose a duty to ensure equipment is safe, and leave it to the dutyholder to determine how to achieve that.
In practice, the HSE and industry guidance have established PAT testing (Portable Appliance Testing) as the standard approach for portable and moveable electrical equipment. The Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999 additionally require employers to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments, which for electrical equipment typically leads to a defined testing and inspection regime.
Categories of Electrical Equipment
Not all electrical equipment needs the same level of attention. The HSE and the IET Code of Practice (formerly IEE) categorise equipment by type and risk level:
- Class I equipment (earthed) — relies on earth connection as a safety measure; includes most metal-bodied tools and appliances. Higher risk, especially on construction sites and in wet environments.
- Class II equipment (double-insulated) — marked with the double square symbol; does not rely on earth. Lower risk, but still requires inspection.
- Portable equipment — designed to be moved while connected to supply (extension leads, portable heaters, fans)
- Moveable equipment — not designed to be moved while in use but can be moved between uses (desktop computers, monitors, printers)
- Stationary equipment — fixed in position but plugged in; subject to less frequent inspection (refrigerators, fixed workbench machinery)
- IT equipment — generally lower risk but still requires inspection; frequency depends on environment
Inspection Frequency: What Is Actually Required?
There is no single legally mandated PAT testing interval. Frequency should be determined by a risk assessment based on the type of equipment, the environment in which it is used, and its history of faults. HSE and IET guidance suggests:
- Construction site power tools — every three months (Class I), every six months (Class II), combined inspection and test
- Industrial and manufacturing equipment — every 12 months
- Commercial kitchens and hotel equipment — every 12 months
- Office equipment in a low-risk environment — every four to five years for Class II equipment, with a user visual check annually
- Care home equipment — annually or more frequently depending on the device type
Whatever intervals you set, they must be based on a documented risk assessment and applied consistently across all equipment of that type.
What PAT Testing Covers
A PAT test has two components. First, a formal visual inspection checks the plug, lead, casing, and any visible internal connections for damage, wear, and correct wiring. Second, an electrical test using a PAT tester measures earth continuity, insulation resistance, and (for some equipment types) touch current. Both components must be completed and recorded for the test to be valid.
Building Your Electrical Equipment Asset Register
For each item of electrical equipment, your register should record:
- Unique asset ID and physical label
- Equipment description, make, model, and serial number
- Location and assigned user or area
- Equipment class (Class I or Class II)
- Date of last PAT test and result (pass/fail)
- Date of next PAT test due
- Any faults found and remedial action taken
- Date of disposal or retirement
In environments with high equipment volumes — a large office, a manufacturing floor, a care home — this register can run to hundreds or thousands of items. Paper records and spreadsheets inevitably miss items, lose test results, and fail to flag renewals. A digital system that lets a PAT tester scan each item, log the result instantly, and automatically calculate the next test date is the only reliable approach at scale.
Taggit handles electrical equipment tracking alongside every other regulated asset in your operation — one register, one system, complete compliance. Learn more or start your free trial today.