Health and safety regulators in the United Kingdom require that electrical appliances be tested on specific intervals depending on how dangerous the appliance could be to both people who use the appliance and workers who may have to test the appliance. The Portable Appliance Test, or simply PAT test, is a simple test that is performed on several parts of an appliance to ensure that all parts are in good working order and do not have the potential to cause its users any harm. And if any possible harm could result from these electrical appliances, PAT testing ensures that a label is affixed to warn its potential users. These labels, named PAT test labels, are attached to the appliances in a number of ways and act as a way of communicating the results of a PAT test.
PAT test labels come in a variety of shapes, sizes, usages, and colors all depending on the tester and what sort of electrical appliance is being tested. Some test labels are simply stickers and meant to be adhered to the surface of the appliance, while others are meant to be wrapped around the cord of the appliance, which is sometimes more durable and easy to see. Cable wrap PAT test labels are sometimes even necessary, as for smaller appliances there may not be enough room on the actual surface of the device to stick a standard PAT test labels. There are also some varieties of labels that fit over the plug, which works well with specific types of appliances. For some specific kinds of appliance tests, such as the microwave emissions test, the emissions of the microwave is measured and the interlock is tested to make sure the users of this very common appliance are safe.
No matter what sorts of colors, forms, shapes or sizes the PAT test labels come in, they all have the same basic function: to ensure the safety of both users and testers of that electrical appliance. And the primary way that these test labels ensure safety is by displaying the results of the required portable appliance test. And not only do these labels contain information regarding whether the appliance ‘Passed’, was ‘Tested for Electrical Safety’, or shouldn’t be used, in the case of a ‘DO NOT USE’ designation, there is much more information that must be noted. The date that the test was performed on, the date the next test should take place and information regarding the test itself is all contained on the surface of the test label.
PAT test labels are a very important part of safety when it comes to the use of electrical appliances in the United Kingdom. By displaying the results of the required PAT test, or Portable Appliance Test, potential users of an appliance as well as people who may be testing the appliance can be made well aware of how safe it is to use the appliance, and even when the next time it needs to be tested.