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PAT testing, in the same system as your LOLER and PUWER work
Record every portable appliance inspection and test on site, keep the results in one appliance register, and see which items are due for a retest at every site. No second system, no extra charge.
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause danger to be maintained so as to prevent that danger. The law does not set fixed PAT intervals: most organisations use user checks, formal visual inspections and, where needed, combined inspection and testing, following the IET Code of Practice. LolerFlow records PAT inspections and tests alongside LOLER and PUWER, with retest dates, failed items and test instruments for every site.
Last updated November 2026 · Written by the LolerFlow Editorial Team · Facts checked against HSE, the IET and legislation.gov.uk
What does the law say about PAT testing?
No law says you must PAT test every year. The duty is to keep electrical equipment safe, and how much checking you do follows the risk:
| Source | What it says |
|---|---|
| Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Regulation 4(2) | Electrical systems, including equipment plugged into them, must be maintained so as to prevent danger, so far as is reasonably practicable |
| PUWER 1998, Regulation 5 | Work equipment, electrical items included, must be kept in efficient working order and good repair |
| HSE guidance INDG236 and HSG107 | Use user checks, formal visual inspections and, where needed, combined inspection and testing, at intervals that match the risk |
| IET Code of Practice, 5th edition | How to inspect and test electrical equipment in service, with suggested starting intervals by equipment type and environment |
- The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (SI 1989/635), legislation.gov.uk
- HSE INDG236: Maintaining portable electric equipment in low-risk environments
- HSE HSG107: Maintaining portable and transportable electrical equipment
- IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, 5th edition
Equipment covered by PAT testing
The IET Code of Practice groups equipment by how it is used. LolerFlow records the category and class against every item, so each one gets the right tests.
One appliance register for every site
What changes when PAT joins your LOLER work
PAT testing questions
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
No law uses the words PAT testing. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause danger to be maintained so as to prevent that danger. Inspection and testing is a common way to show you have done that, at a level that matches the risk.
How often should portable appliances be tested?
There is no fixed legal interval. It depends on the type of equipment, how it is used and where. A power tool on a building site needs checking far more often than a computer in an office. The IET Code of Practice gives suggested starting intervals, which you then adjust from your own results.
Do I have to keep PAT testing records?
The law does not require records or labels, but HSE says records help you manage maintenance and spot equipment that keeps failing, and the IET Code of Practice recommends keeping them. They also show an auditor, client or insurer that the work has been done.
Who can carry out PAT testing?
Anyone competent to do it. A trained member of staff can carry out visual checks. Combined inspection and testing needs the right test instrument and the knowledge to read the results.
Does PAT testing cost extra in LolerFlow?
No. PAT testing is included in the standard plan, alongside LOLER, PUWER and MEWP, at one flat monthly rate.
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