We are very happy to be able to confirm that the PAT Service re-started as expected in September 2021, after an extended period of being unable to conduct the relevant tests.

The table below shows the record of when the scheduled tests for the 2021/22 PAT programme are likely to happen.  Please can you check the dates for your hall and make sure that your PAT contact info is correct, so that the volunteer testers can contact you and arrange specific dates to conduct the tests.

A number of halls have contacted us because they are concerned about having a gap of well over a year (nearly two years in some cases, depending on where they are in the general PAT schedule) in the testing process, and we absolutely understand our members’ concerns.  It is worth, however, noting that it is a myth that all portable electrical appliances in a ‘low-risk’ environment (e.g. offices and village halls, etc.) legally need to have a portable appliance test (PAT) every year.  The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition (in order to prevent danger).  The Regulations, however, do not specify what needs to be done, by whom or how frequently (they don’t make inspection or testing of electrical appliances a legal requirement, nor do they make it a legal requirement to undertake this annually).   However, that said, it is both sensible and good practice to have your equipment tested every year to make sure safety standards are as good as they can be and that any risk to the hall and to any of its users is minimised.

The real issue comes in terms of queries you may receive from your insurers – some of whom prefer testing to be carried out annually.  Should you have any questions from your insurers, all you should need to state is that your usual annual testing has been delayed as a result of restrictions due to COVID and that you expect your next test to be carried out around the dates stated in the spreadsheet below (assuming you have already registered with us, of  course).  Your insurers will probably need to know the date that the equipment was previously tested (you can find that information on the relevant ‘Completed Tests’ pages on this website) that you maintain records/certificates, that you confirm that any delay is purely due to restraints caused by the Covid-19 situation, and that you will inform them as soon as the latest test has been carried out (should they require you to do so).

There is a publication from the government that sets out all the conditions/legal requirements in the link below:
https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf   (Maintaining Portable Electric Equipment in Low Risk Environments)

In the meantime, please email Sarah if you have any queries.