Commercial PAT Testing
Stroud Electrical Services provides commercial PAT testing for offices, retail units, hospitality venues, schools, care homes, holiday lets and construction sites across Gloucestershire. Our NICEIC-approved electricians work to HSE guidance and the IET Code of Practice, with per-item pricing, on-site pass/fail labels and same-day digital reports for most premises.
Commercial Portable Appliance Testing Across Gloucestershire
NICEIC Approved
IET Code of Practice
Per-Item Pricing
Same-Day Reports
What Is Commercial PAT Testing?
Commercial PAT testing is the inspection and testing of portable electrical equipment used in a workplace or commercial property. PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing and applies to any equipment that plugs into a socket or extension lead, including kettles, computers, printers, fridges, kitchen appliances, power tools, extension leads and IEC leads.
Class I appliances (earthed)
Class II appliances (double-insulated)
Class III low-voltage equipment is usually visual only
IT and server rooms are tested carefully around live equipment
Each PAT inspection has two parts: a visual check (plug, cable, fuse rating, casing) and an electrical test using a calibrated PAT tester. Each appliance receives a pass or fail label with engineer ID, date and unique asset number, and is logged on a digital register. PAT covers portable items; EICR covers the fixed wiring.
Commercial PAT testing covers anything with a plug or flexible lead — including kettles, computers, printers, fridges, kitchen appliances, power tools, extension leads and IEC leads commonly used across offices, retail and hospitality settings.
For larger sites we can label appliances by location, by user or by department. Mention any specific reporting needs when you request a quote so the scope matches what your insurer or auditor requires.
Is PAT Testing a Legal Requirement?
PAT testing isn’t a specific legal duty by name, but employers and duty holders are legally required to keep electrical equipment safe. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment to be maintained so it does not create danger, and PUWER 1998 requires work equipment to be kept in efficient working order.
We can help with:
An employer with staff using electrical equipment
A commercial landlord supplying appliances
A school, care home or hospitality venue
A construction site with site-supplied tools or equipment
The HSE’s INDG236 guidance (‘Maintaining Portable Electric Equipment’) confirms that the law does not set a fixed PAT testing interval, and that low-risk office equipment doesn’t automatically need annual PAT testing. Instead, the HSE expects a risk-based approach, using user checks, visual inspections and electrical testing where needed. PAT testing is the recognised way to evidence that portable appliances have been checked and recorded for insurance and compliance purposes.
PAT testing is the recognised way to evidence that portable appliances have been checked and recorded for insurers, auditors and HSE inspectors.
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Who Needs PAT Testing and How Often?
Most commercial premises should arrange a combined PAT inspection and test every 1 to 2 years, with more frequent visual checks in higher-risk environments. The HSE doesn’t set one fixed interval, frequency depends on the appliance, environment, how often it’s used and who uses it. Typical premises we test:
We regularly help with:
Offices, retail and high-street stores
Pubs, restaurants, hotels and hospitality venues
Schools, care homes and community buildings
Industrial units, warehouses and construction sites
The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition, gives industry-standard frequencies based on environment, use and previous test outcomes:
| Equipment Type and Environment | Visual Interval | Inspection + Test |
|---|---|---|
| IT equipment in offices | Annually | 2-4 years |
| Hotel and B&B equipment | Annually | 1-2 years |
| Commercial kitchen equipment | 6 months | 1 year |
| Schools (handheld and stationary) | 6 months | 1 year |
| Construction site 110V tools | 1 month | 3 months |
| Construction site 230V tools | Weekly | 1 month |
| Hire equipment | Before each issue | Yearly minimum |
| Landlord-supplied appliances | At change of tenancy | 1-2 years |
Source: IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition.
What’s Included and What You’ll Receive
Our commercial PAT testing service gives you a clear appliance register, on-site labels and a digital record for your compliance files. Each appliance is methodically inspected and tested:
Visual inspection of plug, cable, fuse rating and casing
Electrical tests: earth continuity, insulation resistance, polarity
Pass or fail label with engineer ID, date and unique asset number
Digital PDF certificate and appliance register, usually same day
After the inspection you’ll receive a digital PDF certificate listing every appliance, asset number, pass/fail and next-test-due date, plus a pass or fail label on every tested appliance and a separate fixed-fee quote for any failed items requiring repair or replacement.
| Outcome | What It Means |
|---|---|
| Pass | Appliance is safe to use, labelled with next-test-due date and entered on the register. |
| Fail | Appliance is unsafe, labelled, withdrawn from use and quoted for repair or replacement. |
| Visual Only | Class III and some sealed Class II items receive a visual-only inspection where electrical testing is not appropriate. |
| No-Touch / Live | Server rooms, fixed IT and life-safety systems may be visual-only or require staged shutdown, agreed in advance. |
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Why Choose Stroud Electrical Services?
Stroud Electrical Services is an owner-run, NICEIC-approved electrical contractor based in Gloucestershire, supporting commercial clients since 2009. Our engineers use calibrated PAT testers from recognised manufacturers such as Seaward, Megger and Kewtech, with annual calibration certificates available on request.
We follow the IET Code of Practice for in-service inspection and testing, and provide clear digital reports for your compliance files. Most sites receive their certificate and asset register on the same day. We can combine PAT and EICR visits where suitable, giving you one planned attendance and a single report bundle. See our recent case studies for examples.
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