PAT testing of appliances

[tony1941]

Does anyone know the actual rules about this?? I keep getting told that it must be carried out by a "qualified electrician". As I read the site http://www.pat-testing.info/ it seems that it needs only a "competent" person, ie. one who understands what the potential problems are and what is acceptable for meter readings. I have just started out helping in a charity shop, and they are paying some "electrician" £1.50 for ever plug he looks at and labels "OK". He even charged for labelling a 12V car polisher which convinced me there is a scam going on.
Also I can't see where the regulations say you must use a special "PAT Tester" instrument.
All this arises as I have C&G 2391 which qualifies me as an inspector and tester of electrical installations (in the past I have done whole railway station tests!!) but everyone thinks I must have some stupid PAT Test bit of paper! - I don't think it exists.

[mccfluff]

No specific qualifications are required to under take the PAT testing, rather that they must be competent to do so. However a City & Guilds 2377 - Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, qualification is available. The City & Guilds 2377 course has been designed jointly by the IEE and City & Guilds.

found that, here

http://www.pat-testing.info/training.htm

[The Builder]

I reckon Fluffybum is right there, Tony. I have the Domestic Installer (DISQ) qualification, and I'd be confident of PAT testing. Your 2391 goes a lot further than my qualification. You should be well qualified.

[Buenchico]

I tried to find a place on a course for the C&G 2377 qualification, which is specifically designed to certify proficiency in PAT testing among people who are NOT fully qualified electricians. But every college I approached stated that they only accepted fully qualified electricians onto the course! Grrrr!

Chris

[ChuckFickens]

I'm the competent person where I work (laughable I know :))

All I had to do was a one day training course in how to use the tester and how to interpret the readings, complete a short test and walk out with a certificate.

The certificate even means that I'm not allowed to nominate other people that I regard as competent to actually do the testing (this is good as it's a really boring job!)

Although charging to test a 12v car polisher sounds a little dodgy, unless it has a charger, in which case the charger should be tested (probably as a class2 device) not the polisher.

[ChuckFickens]

Also, "PAT testing of appliances" is one of the most tautological phrases I've seen for ages :)