What Should You Do Before a PAT Testing Visit?
What Should You Do Before a PAT Testing Visit?
A PAT testing visit does not need to be complicated.
For most small businesses, landlords and letting agents, a little preparation makes the visit quicker, easier and more useful. It helps make sure the right appliances are checked, the report is clearer, and fewer items are missed on the day.
You do not need to create a complicated system before booking PAT testing. But it does help to have a rough idea of what electrical equipment is being used, where it is located, and whether there are any access issues that might slow things down.
If you are unsure where to start, you can also ask Wendy, Thorn PAT Testing’s online assistant, to help think through the type of premises, likely appliance count and guide price before requesting a confirmed quote.
Relevant for: small businesses, offices, shops, salons, clinics, studios, landlords, letting agents, rental properties, staff rooms, managed properties and workplaces preparing for PAT testing.
Start with a quick walk round
One of the simplest things you can do before a PAT testing visit is walk through the premises and look for electrical equipment that is actually being used.
That might include appliances on desks, behind counters, in staff rooms, inside cupboards, in treatment rooms, in stock rooms, or in rental properties. Some items will be obvious, while others may be easy to miss because they are small, tucked away or simply part of the normal working day.
The aim is not to produce a perfect list. It is simply to get a realistic idea of what needs to be considered before the visit.
Think beyond the obvious appliances
When people think about PAT testing, they often remember the larger or more obvious items first.
Computers, printers, kettles, microwaves, fridges, washing machines, card machines, lamps, chargers, heaters, fans, speakers and cleaning equipment may all need to be considered depending on the type of premises.
Our guide What Counts as an Appliance for PAT Testing? gives a wider explanation of the types of equipment that may need to be included.
Check staff rooms and back rooms
Staff rooms and back rooms are common places for appliances to be missed.
A kettle, microwave, toaster, coffee machine, fridge, phone charger, portable heater, fan or vacuum cleaner may be used every day but not always included when someone thinks about workplace equipment.
These items are still part of the electrical equipment being used on site. I have covered this in more detail in PAT Testing for Staff Rooms: Kettles, Microwaves and Everyday Equipment.
Make sure appliances can be accessed
Access is one of the biggest things that can slow down a PAT testing visit.
If appliances are hidden behind furniture, locked in cupboards, blocked by stock, or only accessible when a room is free, it can make the visit harder to complete properly.
Before the visit, it helps to think about where the appliances are and whether they can be reached safely. This is especially useful in business premises, shops, clinics, salons, studios and rental properties where equipment may be spread across different rooms.
Remove anything obviously damaged from use
If you notice an appliance with a cracked casing, damaged plug, loose cable, signs of overheating or anything else that looks unsafe, it should not stay in normal use while waiting for the visit.
PAT testing can help identify faults, but businesses and landlords should still act sensibly if something already looks damaged.
A damaged item can be removed from service, replaced, or set aside for advice. If an appliance fails during PAT testing, the report will make that clear. You can read more in What Happens If an Appliance Fails a PAT Test?.
Add new equipment to the list
New equipment is easy to forget because it often gets put straight into use.
A new printer, card machine, lamp, charger, microwave, fridge, fan, speaker or staff room appliance may have arrived since the last visit. Even if it is new, it is still useful to add it to your appliance record so it is not missed later.
Our guide Do New Appliances Need PAT Testing Straight Away? explains how new equipment can be managed sensibly.
For landlords, focus on supplied appliances
For landlords and letting agents, preparation is slightly different from a business premises.
The focus should normally be on portable or movable electrical appliances supplied by the landlord for tenant use. That might include a fridge, washing machine, microwave, kettle, toaster, lamps, television, vacuum cleaner, portable heater or fan.
The tenant’s own appliances are separate. Keeping this distinction clear helps avoid confusion when preparing for the visit and keeping property records up to date. Thorn PAT Testing has more information on landlord PAT testing and letting agent PAT testing.
You do not need a perfect appliance count
It is useful to have an approximate appliance count before booking, but it does not need to be exact.
A rough idea helps with guide pricing and scheduling. If there are a few extra items on the day, they can usually be added to the visit, depending on time and access.
This is where Wendy can help. If you are unsure whether you have 10 items, 30 items or more, Wendy can ask a few simple questions and help create a guide estimate before the final price and availability are confirmed by Thorn PAT Testing.
Think about timing and disruption
PAT testing can often be planned around the way a business operates.
For a small office, shop, clinic, studio or salon, it may be possible to work through appliances in a sensible order so disruption is kept to a minimum. For some items, access may only be possible when a room is free or when equipment is not being used.
If certain times of day are quieter, or if some areas are easier to access before opening or between appointments, it is worth mentioning that before the visit.
Keep previous reports if you have them
If you have a previous PAT testing report, it can be useful to keep it available.
It may help show what was checked last time, what has changed, and whether any appliances have been added or removed since the previous visit.
That does not mean everything has to be identical each year. Businesses and rental properties change over time. A previous report simply gives a useful starting point for keeping the record up to date. Our article Why Small Businesses Should Keep an Appliance List explains why even a simple list can make future visits easier.
Ask questions before the visit
If you are unsure what should be included, it is better to ask before the visit rather than guess.
You may be unsure about staff-owned equipment, landlord-supplied appliances, newly purchased items, equipment kept in cupboards, or appliances that are difficult to access.
Wendy can help with general preparation and guide pricing, and Nick can confirm the final details before the booking is agreed.
Thorn PAT Testing’s approach
Thorn PAT Testing provides local PAT testing for small businesses, landlords, letting agents and workplaces across Glasgow, Bearsden, Milngavie and East Dunbartonshire.
The service includes visual inspection, testing where required, clear pass/fail labelling and a digital report for your records. You can also view current PAT testing prices before requesting a guide price.
If you are preparing for a PAT testing visit, you do not need to overcomplicate it. A rough appliance count, reasonable access and a note of any concerns are usually enough to get started.
Preparing for PAT testing?
If you are unsure what needs checked, Wendy can help you think through your premises, likely appliance count and guide price before you request a confirmed quote.
You can view the main PAT testing service information, check current pricing, or ask Wendy online.
Ask Wendy for a Guide Price