PAT Testing & Safety Compliance FAQs

PAT testing is not required by a specific law, but employers and landlords have a legal duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 to ensure all electrical equipment is safe.

Regular PAT testing is the most straightforward way to demonstrate that duty has been met. If an electrical fault causes injury or fire and you cannot show the equipment was maintained and inspected, you may face prosecution, insurance invalidation, or civil liability.

The frequency depends on the type of equipment and the environment it is used in. The HSE and IET Code of Practice provide guidance rather than fixed intervals:

Low-risk environments (offices, schools, shops): computers, monitors, desk lamps — typically every 2–4 years.
Higher-risk environments (construction sites, kitchens, workshops): annually or more frequently.
Portable tools used by multiple people: more regular inspection is recommended.

CityPat can advise on the right testing frequency for your specific environment after an initial assessment.

PAT testing combines a visual inspection with electrical testing of portable appliances. The visual check identifies obvious damage, frayed cables, bent pins, and signs of overheating or misuse.

The electrical tests check earth continuity, insulation resistance, and leakage current depending on the class of appliance. Each item is then labelled as passed or failed, and a full register of tested appliances is provided. Equipment that fails is taken out of service until repaired or replaced.

Any electrical appliance with a plug that connects to the mains supply falls within scope. This includes computers, monitors, printers, kettles, microwaves, fridges, extension leads, power tools, floor cleaners, and portable heaters.

Built-in fixed appliances — such as hardwired lighting or installed extraction fans — are not covered by PAT testing; those fall under EICR (Fixed Wire Testing). If you are unsure whether a specific item needs testing, CityPat can advise during your site assessment.

For residential landlords in England, PAT testing is not a statutory requirement, but it is strongly recommended for any electrical appliances provided with the property (white goods, electric heaters, etc.).

In Scotland, landlords are legally required to ensure all electrical appliances are in a safe condition at the start of every tenancy.

HMO landlords across the UK are routinely required to provide evidence that appliances are safe as a condition of licensing.

Commercial landlords have a legal duty under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 to ensure appliances in their buildings are maintained safely.

An Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR) — sometimes called a Fixed Wire Test — is an inspection of your building's fixed electrical installation: wiring, fuse boards, consumer units, sockets, and lighting circuits. It is distinct from PAT testing, which covers portable appliances.

For commercial properties, an EICR is a legal requirement under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and should be carried out every 3–5 years depending on the type and age of the installation.

For private residential landlords in England, EICRs have been mandatory since 2020 under the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations, with inspections required at least every 5 years.

An EICR covers the entire fixed electrical installation in a building: consumer units and fuse boards, all circuits including ring finals, radials, and lighting, earthing and bonding arrangements, socket outlets, light fittings, and the condition and routing of wiring throughout the property.

The report grades any defects found using a code system:

C1 — Danger present. Requires immediate action.
C2 — Potentially dangerous. Urgent remedial work required.
C3 — Improvement recommended.
FI — Further investigation required.

CityPat issues a full written report and can carry out remedial work where required.

Under BS 5839-1:2017, fire alarm systems in commercial premises should be tested:

Weekly: a brief functional test of at least one call point (manual activation) to confirm the alarm sounds.
Every 6 months: a full inspection and service by a competent engineer.
Annually: a full system test of all call points, detectors, sounders, and any ancillary connections.

Failure to maintain fire alarm systems is a breach of the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, which requires responsible persons to ensure fire detection and warning systems are properly maintained.

Fire extinguishers must be serviced annually in accordance with BS 5306-3:2017. An annual service checks the extinguisher's charge, pressure, seals, safety pin, and overall condition.

Extended service intervals also apply depending on extinguisher type:

Powder extinguishers: extended service every 5 years.
CO2 extinguishers: hydraulic test every 10 years.
Water and foam extinguishers: extended service every 5 years.

Extinguishers that are damaged, discharged, or fail inspection must be replaced immediately. Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, the responsible person for the premises must ensure fire-fighting equipment is properly maintained.

A fire risk assessment is a structured evaluation of a premises to identify fire hazards, assess who is at risk, and determine what measures need to be introduced to minimise that risk.

Under the Regulatory Reform (Fire Safety) Order 2005, a fire risk assessment is a legal requirement for all non-domestic premises in England and Wales. This includes offices, shops, warehouses, schools, care homes, churches, and any building where people work or gather.

Landlords of HMOs and blocks of flats are also required to have a current fire risk assessment. The assessment must be carried out by a competent person and reviewed regularly — and whenever there are significant changes to the premises or its use.

Emergency lighting provides illumination along escape routes if the normal mains lighting fails. Under the Fire Precautions (Workplace) Regulations 1997 and BS EN 1838, emergency lighting systems must be tested regularly:

Monthly: brief functional test (typically 1 minute) to confirm the system activates and all fittings illuminate.
Annually: a full 3-hour duration discharge test to confirm battery capacity is still sufficient for the required escape duration.

CityPat carries out annual 3-hour discharge tests across all fittings and issues a certificate of compliance on completion.

Yes. CityPat specialises in multi-site compliance programmes and works with businesses operating across 10, 20, 30+ locations across the UK. We coordinate visit scheduling around your operational requirements, manage access permissions and store contacts, and deliver a consolidated compliance register across all your sites.

Pricing for multi-site agreements is tailored — get in touch to discuss your portfolio.

After each visit you receive a full written report and certificate for every service carried out:

PAT testing: complete appliance register with pass/fail status for every item tested.
EICR: full condition report with coded observations and recommendations.
Fire alarm, fire extinguisher, and emergency lighting: service certificate confirming compliance with the relevant British Standard.

All documentation is formatted for use with auditors, insurers, fire authorities, local authority inspections, and your own internal records.

CityPat operates across England, Wales, and Scotland. We cover major cities and surrounding areas including London, Manchester, Leeds, Sheffield, Birmingham, Liverpool, Newcastle, Nottingham, Leicester, Bristol, and many more.

If you are unsure whether we cover your location, contact us — we work with clients ranging from single-site small businesses to national retail chains with dozens of locations.

You can request a free quote by completing the form on this website, calling us on 01423 534665, or emailing info@citypat.co.uk.

To help us quote accurately, it is useful to know: the type of premises, the approximate number of appliances or size of the installation, how many sites are involved, and your preferred timing. We aim to respond promptly and can usually arrange visits at short notice where required.