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The Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment is the non-statutory document which will be of assistance with electrical equipment testing. The objective of theCode of Practice is to give guidance on in-service inspection and testing, to determine whether electrical equipment is fit for continued service or if maintenance, repair or replacement is necessary.
The 5th Edition of the Code of Practice has introduced some significant changes:
- Current working practices
This edition reinforces the requirement for the dutyholder to take account of the risks to which the equipment is exposed, the environment in which it is used and the skill level of the user - Effect of age on electrical equipment
Some aspects of compliance testing processes are not suited to routine safety checks. Changes to acceptable test results and test heirarchies have been introduced - Legal requirements
All legal requirements and duties are amalgamated into a new section. - Electrical Safety Standards for landlords
The 2020 Regulations Private Rented Sector (England) places additional duties on landlords - Fixed electrical equipment
Some permanently installed electrical equipment (such as hand-dryers) have not be subject to either Electrical Installation Inspection and Testing or PAT Testing requirements. Such installations are now covered by the Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.This change removes the mobility requirement of previous versions of the Code of Practice – and hence changes the name of the activity from Portable Appliance testing (PAT) to Electrical Equipment testing (EET).
The 5th Edition of the Code of Practice has removed reference to an upper voltage limit. However in practice the equipment to be tested and maintained is that which operates with the IET Wiring Regulations of Low voltage – that is voltage below 1,000V AC or
Going forward in this course we will no longer use the abbreviation PAT or the phrases ‘portable appliance testing’ and ‘portable appliances’. As with the changes in the 4th Edition of the Code of Practice, EET Testing does not deal with microwave leakage.
