As a business owner or commercial landlord, you have a duty of care to make sure your business premises is a safe place for everyone who enters. There are many safety requirements when it comes to managing a commercial property and regular electrical inspections and testing are a vital part of this.
PAT Testing
Portable Appliance Testing is not a legal requirement in itself, however it is a key way to ensure electrical safety and compliance. If you are providing electrical appliances to be used by others, it is your responsibility to ensure they are safe to use for the sake of employees and the public.
PAT Testing consists of both a visual inspection of the appliances, checking for signs of damage, and electrical testing which will detect if there are any faults present.
There is no set interval for PAT testing to be carried out and the frequency will be based on the use case of your items, if appliances are heavily used the testing should be more frequent, if the items are only used occasionally the testing interval can be increased. As a general rule, many businesses choose to have PAT testing carried out annually.
Commercial EICR Reports
Commercial electrical installation condition reports are an in depth test of the electrical installation in a commercial setting. The importance of electrical testing in a commercial environment is elevated in comparison to domestic sectors as there are often more powerful 3 phase electrical supplies in place, and more power being used generally.
CEICRs should be carried out every 5 years, however, depending on the nature of your business, you may require more frequent testing. Higher risk environments can require testing every 3 years, and sometimes even annually.
The nature of electrical testing means that there can be disruption in the workplace, by choosing an electrician experienced in the commercial sector, you will be able to work with one another to develop a testing plan which minimises interference to business activities.
Commercial Remedial Works
What if your EICR report comes back unsatisfactory? If you receive an unsatisfactory EICR report following on from your testing, your electrician will advise you and prepare a quotation for the works required to bring your premises up to current regulations. These works can range from the replacement of damaged electrical accessories or the upgrading of distribution boards, through to the rewiring of circuits. A competent electrician will be able to work with your individual requirements, goals and budget to achieve a satisfactory report and long term electrical safety.
If you are based in Peterborough or surrounding areas and your commercial EICR is due, or if you require PAT testing for your business, please don’t hesitate to get in touch today to discuss your requirements. You can call us on 01733 698151 or fill out our contact form here.
