How Often Is PAT Testing Required? A Guide for Businesses and Landlords
There is no single legal PAT testing interval. What the law requires is that electrical equipment used at work is maintained so it is safe. Portable appliance testing, carried out to the IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, is the recognised way to demonstrate that.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 require employers to keep equipment safe. Neither specifies PAT testing by name, but insurers, landlords, licensing authorities and event organisers routinely ask for an up-to-date PAT register as evidence.
Typical intervals by environment
- Offices and shops: IT and low-risk equipment every two to four years; kettles, extension leads and portable heaters more often.
- Hotels and hospitality: around every one to two years.
- Schools: class I equipment every year; class II every one to four years depending on use.
- Industrial and commercial kitchens: every six to twelve months.
- Construction sites: 110V tools every three months.
- Rented homes: appliances supplied by the landlord, typically at each change of tenancy and every one to two years.
Frequent user checks and formal visual inspections between tests catch most damage early.
What you receive
Every item is labelled with its result and next due date and recorded in a digital asset register. Failed items are listed separately with the reason, so you can repair or replace them.
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Frequently asked questions
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Not by name, but the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require employers to keep electrical equipment safe, and PAT testing is the recognised way to demonstrate it.
How often should office equipment be PAT tested?
Low-risk office and IT equipment is typically tested every two to four years, with higher-use items such as kettles and extension leads tested more often.
How often should construction site tools be PAT tested?
Every three months for 110V portable tools under the IET Code of Practice.