Building Regulations
do state that structures built of combustible material ( i.e. a wooden shed ) must be at least 2 metres from the main house. ( Useful Junk )
local Building Control.
These rules DO apply to DIY activities, anyone carrying out DIY changes which are notifiable will have to submit a building notice to the local authority before starting work and pay the fee to have the work inspected and tested.
Problems may be encountered when trying to sell a property which has had notifiable electrical work carried out but for which the appropriate certificate cannot be produced.
PAT Test - Extension Leads
Extension Leads
Where extension leads are fitted with a standard 3 pin socket outlet these should be tested as Class1 appliances with the addition of a polarity check. Any such extension leads that are found to be without an earth wire should be marked as defective and removed from service.
The length of an extension lead should be checked to ensure that it is not so great that the appliance performance may be affected by voltage drop. Additionally, the length should not exceed the following:
core area maximum length
1.25mm2 12 metres
1.5mm2 15 metres
2.5mm2 25 metres
2.5mm2 extension leads are too large for standard 13A plugs, although they may be used with BS EN 60309 industrial plugs. Extension leads exceeding the above lengths should be fitted with a 30mA RCD manufactured to BS 7071.
Cable reels must be used within their reeled or unreeled ratings as appropriate.
PAT Test Reasons
1).Faulty electrical appliances and leads are the main cause of accidental fires in commercial buildings, representing over a quarter of all such fires.
2) It is your legal responsibility as an employer to provide a safe working environment
3) The majority of insurance companies now make it a stipulation of your insurance cover.
Portable Appliance Testing
( PAT Testing )
PAT Testing Legislation
The legislation of specific relevance to electrical maintenance is the:
* Health & Safety at Work Act 1974
The Health & Safety at Work Act 1974 is the basis of all Health and Safety Legislation in the UK. The law is all encompassing and sets out the general obligations that:
a. Employers have towards their employees and members of the public and
b .Employers have for themselves, each other and members of the public.
The law requires that an assessment of risk is made and that reasonably practicable measures are put in place to minimise any risk.
It is clear that the law sets out the general guidelines regarding safety.
* Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999
The Management of Health & Safety at Work Regulations 1999 state:
"Every employer shall make suitable and sufficient assessment of:
(a) the risks to the health and safety of his employees to which they are exposed whilst at work, and
(b) the risks to ensure the health and safety of persons not in his employment arising out of or inconnection with the conduct by him or his undertaking."
Again it is clear that an assessment of risk has to made and reasonably practicable steps taken to minimise such risk.
* Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 state:
“All systems shall at all times be of such construction as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
"As may be necessary to prevent danger, all systems shall be maintained so as to prevent, so far as reasonably practicable, such danger."
“ System” means an electrical system in which all the electrical equipment is, or may be, electrically connected to a common source of electrical energy and includes such source and such equipment
“ Electrical Equipment” includes anything used, intended to be used or installed for use, to generate, provide, transmit, transform, rectify, convert, conduct, distribute, control, store, measure or use electrical energy."
It is clear that these regulations require a regime of testing and inspection to maintain portable appliances in a safe condition.
* Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 ( PUWER )
PAT Testing Legislation - The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations (PUWER)
The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations
1998 state:
“Every employer shall ensure that work equipment is so constructed or adapted as to be suitable for which it is provided."
The PUWER 1998 covers most risks that can result from using work equipment. With respect to risks from electricity, compliance with the -Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 is likely to achieve compliance with the PUWER 1998.
- PUWER 1998 only applies to work equipment used by workers at work. This includes all work equipment (fixed, transportable or portable) connected to a source of electrical energy.
- PUWER does not apply to fixed installations in a building. The electrical safety of these installations is dealt with only by the Electricity at Work Regulations
* Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992
Scope of the legislation.
It is clear that the combination of the HSW Act 1974, the PUWER 1998 and the EAW Regulations 1989 apply to all electrical equipment used in, or associated with, places of work. The scope extends from distribution systems down to the smallest piece of electrical equipment. It is clear that there is a requirement to inspect and test all types of electrical equipment in all work situations.
The Electricity at Work regulations states that:
"No person shall be engaged in any work activity where technical knowledge or experience is necessary to prevent danger, or where appropriate, injury, unless he possesses such knowledge or experience, or is under such degree of supervision as may be appropriate having regard to the nature of the work".
The IEE Code of Practice states:
those carrying out the inspection and testing must be competent to undertake the inspection and, where appropriate, testing of electrical equipment and appliances having due regard of their own safety and that of others. What should be considered is that the 'danger' to be prevented, includes not just the dangers which may arise during the testing procedure to the tester and others, but also the dangers which may arise at a later date as a result of using equipment which has not been effectively tested.
The tester must have an understanding of the modes of electrical, mechanical or thermal damage to electrical equipment and appliances and their flexes which may be encountered in any environment.
Training must include the identification of equipment and appliance types to determine the test procedures and frequency of inspection and testing. Persons testing must be familiar with the test instruments used and in particular their limitations and restrictions so as to achieve repeatable results without damaging the equipment or the appliance
PAT Test Equipment Types
There are many European standards and guidance notes regarding portable appliances and equipment, though they do not establish a common and specific definition of such equipment. Even so, there does seem to be a consensus of opinion that such equipment is either hand held whilst being connected to the supply, or is intended to be moved whilst connected to the supply, or is capable of being moved without undue difficulty whilst connected to the supply.
It is usual for this equipment to be connected to the supply via a plug and socket, however this is not a requirement for electrical equipment to be deemed portable or transportable. It is common to define a portable appliance by saying that it is 'anything with a plug top on the end of it'. This is a mistake as it may mean that there are some appliances in the system that are never tested.
The IEE Code of Practice gives guidance on the various equipment types:
Portable appliance
An appliance of less than 18kg in mass that is intended to be moved whilst in operation or an appliance which can easily be moved from one place to another, e.g. vacuum cleaner, toaster, food mixer, etc.
Movable equipment (transportable)
This equipment is either:
18 kg or less in mass and not fixed, e.g. electric fire. or
Equipment with wheels, castors or other means to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use, e.g. air conditioning unit
Hand Held equipment or appliances
This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use, e.g. hair dryer.
Stationary equipment or appliances
This equipment has a mass exceeding 18kg and is not provided with a carrying handle, e.g. refrigerator
Fixed Equipment/appliances
This equipment or an appliance which is fastened to a support or otherwise secured in a specific location, e.g. bathroom heater
Appliances/equipment for building in
This equipment is intended to be installed in a prepared recess such as a cupboard or similar. In general, equipment for building in does not have exposure on all sides because one or more of the sides, additional protection against electrical shock is provided by the surroundings, e.g. built in electric cooker
Information technology equipment
Information technology equipment includes electrical business equipment such as computers and mains powered telecommunications equipment, and other equipment for general business use, such as mail processing machines, VDU's photo-copiers
