PAT Testing in Merseyside
Trained, accredited testers keeping your electrical appliances safe, certified and legal — for landlords, offices, schools, hotels and hospitals across Merseyside.
Drop items in, or let us collect and return them. Out-of-hours testing available so your business is not disrupted.
What you receive
- Pass or fail label on every item tested
- Completion certificate for your records
- Detailed record per appliance plus an inventory summary
- Electronic records as standard, hard copy on request
- Minor repairs and plug rewiring done there and then
What PAT testing actually is
Portable appliance testing is the inspection and electrical testing of any appliance that plugs in — kettles, computers, extension leads, power tools, fridges, hairdryers, lamps. It exists to catch damage and deterioration before it causes a shock or a fire, and to give you documented evidence that you checked.
It is not complicated and there is nothing to be nervous about if you have never arranged it before. Our engineers do the work. All you need to know when you ring is roughly how many items you have.
Most appliances need a combined formal visual inspection and test every 12 months, but that is a guide rather than a fixed rule — the correct interval depends on the appliance type and how hard it is used. A power tool on a building site and a desk lamp in a quiet office do not carry the same risk, and we will tell you what is sensible for your equipment rather than testing everything to the same schedule.
Every Appliance Tested, Tagged And Logged
Each item gets a visual inspection first, because a fair number of failures are found by eye before a tester is ever connected — damaged flexes, cracked plugs, the wrong fuse fitted. After that it goes on the tester for earth continuity and insulation resistance, and a load test where the appliance calls for one.
Anything that passes is tagged with the date and the next test due. Anything that fails is labelled, taken out of service and reported to you in writing, so you are never left guessing which item was the problem or what happened to it.
What we actually do to each appliance
Every item goes through the same sequence. Nothing is skipped and nothing is guessed at.
1. Visual inspection
The appliance, the flex and the plug top are checked for any visible sign of damage, wear or overheating. A surprising share of failures are found here, before anything is plugged into a tester.
2. Inside the plug
We open the plug top, inspect the fuse and the connections, and tighten the wire terminations. Loose terminations are one of the most common faults we find.
3. Electrical tests
An earth continuity test on Class 1 appliances to confirm it is properly earthed, and an insulation resistance test on Class 1 and Class 2 appliances to confirm it is properly insulated.
4. Labelling
A label goes on the appliance showing pass or fail, the test date, the re-test date and the appliance ID we have assigned it.
5. Records
A detailed record for each appliance plus an inventory summary, supplied electronically as standard. Hard copy on request.
6. Repairs
Plug rewiring, plug replacement and most minor repairs are done on the spot, so a failed item does not simply become a problem for you to solve.
Landlords, offices, schools and more
Our engineers work across a wide range of environments, which matters more than it sounds — a tester used only to offices is not much help in a commercial kitchen or a workshop. Ours are used to different settings and to problem solving on the spot, so if something fails on inspection we can usually get you moving again the same visit.
Landlords
Rented property appliances, with documentation you can hand straight to a letting agent or produce if challenged.
Offices
Computers, monitors, kettles, heaters and the drawer full of extension leads nobody has looked at in years.
Schools
Classroom, office and workshop equipment, tested around the timetable rather than through it.
Hotels
Guest room and back-of-house appliances, tested at times that do not disturb guests.
Hospitals
Clinical and administrative environments where documentation and traceability matter a great deal.
Testing that works around your business
Testing during business hours is disruptive in a lot of workplaces, which is precisely why so many people put it off. We offer three ways round that.
We collect
A pickup and drop-off service, so your items come to us and go back tested. Available across Merseyside.
You drop in
Walk into the shop on Boundary Road and leave your electrical items with us at your convenience.
Out of hours
If testing has to happen when you are closed, our team will work to a time that suits you. Ring and we will arrange it.
PAT testing and the law
There is a lot of noise online about PAT testing being compulsory or having a fixed legal interval. The accurate position is more useful than that, so here it is plainly.
The law does not name PAT testing or set an interval. What it does is place a duty on you to maintain electrical equipment so that it does not cause danger. Testing is how you meet that duty and, just as importantly, how you evidence it. The relevant legislation is the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974, the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
That duty applies to employers, landlords and self-employed people. Appliances have to be safe, suitable for the purpose they are used for, and kept in good working order.
On who can do it: the legislation allows any competent person to carry out testing with a PAT instrument. A competent person means someone with the experience or knowledge to check and test appliances safely — the visual examination in particular should only be done by someone who genuinely knows what they are looking at. That is what you are paying an accredited tester for.
What the service covers
In-service inspection & testing
Full inspection and testing of electrical equipment in service, to the sequence set out above.
Asset management
Professional management of your assets, so you know what you own, where it is and when it is next due.
Certified engineers
Certified and trained engineers with experience across very different working environments.
Results & certificates
Pass and fail test results with completion certificates issued for your records.
Labelling
Pass and fail labels applied to every item, with the test date, re-test date and appliance ID.
Repairs
Plug re-wiring, plug replacement and a repair service for most minor faults found during testing.
Where we test
We are based on Boundary Road in St Helens and we test across the whole Merseyside area. We regularly see appliances from Widnes, Warrington, Wigan, Stockton Heath, St Helens, Appleton, Newton-le-Willows, Haydock, Great Sankey, Whiston, Prescot, Thatto Heath, Rainford and Rainhill, along with plenty of other areas nearby.
Finding us
From the town centre, follow Eccleston Street to the traffic lights and turn left at the Nags Head building. We are on the right, across the road from Farmfoods and JD Gyms on Boundary Road.
Coming from Prescot, go straight down Prescot Road until you reach the Eccleston Arms Bar & Grill, follow on to the traffic lights and turn left. Carry on past Morrisons and you will find us on the left.
Spread the cost with Payment Assist
A full site test across a lot of appliances is a business expense that does not always land at a convenient moment. We are a Payment Assist garage, so the work can be split into monthly instalments. Ask when you book and we will run through what is available on the amount you are spending.
Tell us roughly how many items
That is genuinely all we need to quote. Message or ring with an approximate count and the type of premises, and we will come back with a price and a date. If you are not sure what counts as an appliance, tell us what the place does and we will work it out with you.
PAT testing: your questions answered
The things people actually ring up and ask.
Not in those words. The law does not name PAT testing or set an interval. What it does do is place a duty on employers, landlords and self-employed people to maintain electrical equipment so that it does not cause danger, under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and related legislation. Testing is how you meet that duty and how you evidence it if anyone asks.
Most need a combined formal visual inspection and test every 12 months, but that is guidance rather than a fixed rule. The right interval depends on the appliance and how hard it is used. A power tool on site and a desk lamp in an office do not carry the same risk, and we will advise a sensible schedule rather than testing everything the same way.
A visual inspection of the appliance, flex and plug top for damage or overheating. Then we open the plug top, check the fuse and connections and tighten the terminations. Then the electrical tests: earth continuity on Class 1 appliances, and insulation resistance on Class 1 and Class 2. Then it is labelled and recorded.
It does not have to. We offer a collection and drop-off service so items come to us, you can walk in and leave items at the shop on Boundary Road, or we can test out of hours at a time that suits you. Tell us which works and we will arrange it.
A pass or fail label on every item showing the test date, re-test date and the appliance ID we assign. A completion certificate. And a detailed record for each appliance plus an inventory summary, supplied electronically as standard with a hard copy on request.
We tell you, and where we can we fix it. Plug rewiring, plug replacement and most minor repairs are done at the time, so a failed item does not just become a problem handed back to you. Anything beyond a minor repair we will explain so you can decide whether to repair or replace.
Only roughly. That is the one thing that helps us quote. If you are not sure what counts, describe the premises and we will work it out with you on the phone.
The legislation allows any competent person using a PAT instrument. Competent means someone with the experience or knowledge to check and test appliances safely. The visual examination in particular needs someone who knows what they are looking at, which is what an accredited tester gives you.
Yes, regularly. You get documentation you can hand to a letting agent or produce if challenged. Landlords carry the same duty as employers to keep appliances safe and suitable for use.
The whole Merseyside area. We regularly test for customers in Widnes, Warrington, Wigan, Stockton Heath, St Helens, Appleton, Newton-le-Willows, Haydock, Great Sankey, Whiston, Prescot, Thatto Heath, Rainford and Rainhill, among others.
Hotels, hospitals, schools, offices and rented property, among others. Our engineers are used to different environments, which matters when equipment and access vary so much between them.
Yes. We are a Payment Assist garage, so a larger site test can be split into monthly instalments. Ask when you book and we will run through the options.
Book PAT testing in Merseyside
Accredited testers, certificates and records issued on completion, and a collection service so it barely touches your working day.