TradedocPAT test record
A blank in-service inspection and testing log you can print and fill on the clipboard. Or the faster option — record every appliance on your phone between jobs, email the signed report to the client before you leave site. Tracks the IET Code of Practice 5th Edition (2020).
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What it is
A PAT testing record (properly called an In-Service Inspection and Testing Record) logs the visual inspection and combined tests carried out on portable and transportable electrical equipment. It records every item's asset ID, class, test readings, pass/fail status, and the date of next inspection. PAT itself is the informal name — the IET Code of Practice 5th Edition (2020) covers the full in-service regime.
UK legal requirement
Underpinned by the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, Reg 4(2), which requires electrical equipment to be maintained in a safe condition so far as reasonably practicable. HSE is explicit that there is no legal requirement for annual PAT, nor any legal requirement for a PAT label or certificate — the duty is on the employer/dutyholder to demonstrate the equipment was maintained safely. The IET Code of Practice 5th Edition (2020) is the recognised framework; HSE guidance INDG236 (rev3) explains the risk-based approach.
Compliance status
This template tracks IET Code of Practice 5th Edition (2020). Our compliance radar crawls the publishing bodies every six hours — see the standards we build to today or the radar of what's coming next.
Engineer remains responsible for verifying compliance with the version applicable to their work. TradeDoc is a tool, not a regulator.
Who needs it
- ·Electricians offering PAT as an add-on service for offices, schools, landlords, trades suppliers
- ·Self-employed tradespeople keeping their own tools inspected and insurable
- ·Construction site electricians running 110V tool inspections (typically 3-monthly)
- ·Landlords and HMO managers building a maintenance paper trail
- ·Event hire, AV and catering businesses where a client audit expects a record
What goes on it
Every mandatory field, in the order the inspector or auditor will check them.
Site + dutyholder details
Client or employer name, site address, dutyholder responsible for the equipment, inspector name, inspector competence statement, date of inspection.
Appliance ID + description
Unique asset ID (label number), appliance description, make, model, serial number, location on site. Without a stable asset ID you cannot prove continuity between inspections.
Class + supply rating
Class I (earthed metal-cased), Class II (double-insulated, square-in-square symbol) or Class III (separated extra-low voltage). Fuse rating, voltage rating, lead length. Class determines which tests apply.
Formal visual inspection
Condition of casing, flex, plug (including BS 1363 compliance, correct fuse, cord grip), connections, evidence of overheating or damage, environmental suitability. Many defects — and most PAT failures — are caught at this stage before testing begins.
Earth continuity (Class I only)
Measurement of the resistance between the earth pin of the plug and exposed metalwork of the appliance, typically ≤0.1Ω + lead resistance. Fails indicate a broken earth connection inside the appliance or lead.
Insulation resistance
500V DC test between live + neutral (bonded) and earth. Pass typically ≥1MΩ (Class I) or ≥2MΩ (Class II). Some electronic equipment is safely tested at 250V DC per the Code of Practice — mark it on the record.
Protective conductor / touch current (where applicable)
For IT equipment and appliances with filtering where 500V insulation test is not appropriate: protective conductor current (Class I) or touch current (Class II) measured under normal load, with limits from Table 15.1 of the 5th Edition Code of Practice.
Functional check + pass/fail
Plug-in switch-on, confirm the appliance operates normally. Overall pass or fail, reason for any fail, action taken (labelled 'fail — do not use', repaired, removed from service, replaced), signature of competent person, recommended next inspection interval.
Common mistakes on a hand-filled one
The small things that get picked up on audit, insurance review, or when the next engineer reads it.
- ✗Applying the same 500V insulation test to IT equipment — it can damage surge protection and electronic filtering, use 250V DC or the substitute/touch current test per the IET Code of Practice
- ✗No lead-resistance figure recorded separately on Class I appliances with long leads — the 0.1Ω earth continuity limit is exclusive of lead resistance
- ✗Labelling every appliance 'pass' annually regardless of environment — a construction 110V tool and an office fax don't share a testing interval
- ✗Filling in a certificate for a user who then assumes PAT is a legal requirement — HSE is explicit that it isn't; it's evidence of maintenance
- ✗Treating Class II appliances as needing earth continuity — they don't; they're double-insulated and have no earth pin to test
- ✗Forgetting to record the competence of the inspector — INDG236 makes competence the core of HSE's risk-based regime
The faster option
Fill one on your phone in 2 minutes
Pick the template. Answer the fields. Customer signs from their inbox. PDF saved in the vault with a unique number. Free forever on your first 100 docs a month. Pro £15/month adds custom branding and one-tap customer email. No card at sign-up.
Frequently asked questions
Is PAT testing a legal requirement in the UK?+
No. PAT testing itself is not a legal requirement and there is no law that says equipment must be tested annually. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 (Reg 4(2)) require electrical equipment to be maintained in a safe condition. In-service inspection and testing — 'PAT' for short — is the industry-standard way to demonstrate that duty has been met, but HSE is explicit that a blanket annual test is not required and often not proportionate.
How often should PAT testing be done?+
The IET Code of Practice 5th Edition recommends intervals based on environment and equipment type. Typical indicative frequencies: construction site 110V tools 3 months (combined inspection and test), office IT 24–48 months, handheld equipment in schools 12 months, stationary equipment in a low-risk office up to 60 months. The right interval is the one the dutyholder can justify under a risk-based approach.
Who is allowed to carry out PAT testing?+
A competent person under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Competence means appropriate training, knowledge of the Code of Practice, and the right calibrated test equipment. An electrician with a City & Guilds 2377 (or equivalent) certification is the standard bar. HSE also notes that routine user checks and formal visual inspections in low-risk settings can be carried out by a suitably trained member of staff who is not a qualified electrician.
What are Class I and Class II appliances?+
Class I appliances have a metal case connected to earth via a three-core flex — e.g., toasters, kettles, most power tools. Class II appliances are double-insulated with no exposed metal earthed to the supply — look for the square-in-square symbol — e.g., most modern lamps and handheld chargers. Class I needs earth continuity plus insulation resistance testing; Class II skips earth continuity because there's no earth path by design.
Do I need to put a PAT label on every appliance?+
Labels are useful for users to see the appliance has been checked, but they are not a legal requirement. HSE does not mandate labels. What you do need is a record — the testing log — that links each appliance (by ID) to its last inspection, the readings, and the next date. The label is a user-facing convenience; the record is the evidence.
What's the difference between user check, visual inspection, and combined inspection and test?+
These are the three tiers in the IET Code of Practice. User check: the person using the equipment looks for obvious damage before use (no tools). Formal visual inspection: a trained person removes the plug, checks the flex, fuse, and connections (still no tester). Combined inspection and test: formal visual plus instrument readings — the 'PAT' most people think of. Most of the safety benefit is from the first two, which is why HSE emphasises them.