PAT-IT - First Stop Safety
Contents
1. PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 7 Type of equipment For the purpose of planning an in service test regime electrical equipment is categorised into 5 types These are explained below Stationary equipment This is defined as heavier than 18 kg and not provided with a carrying handle Refrigerators and washing machines are examples 2 Information Technology equipment business equipment This includes electrical business equipment such as computers mains powered equipment and other equipment for general business use such as mail processing machines electrical plotters trimmers VDUs data terminals telephones printers fax machines and photocopiers 3 Movable transportable equipment This is defined as equipment less than 18 kg and not fixed like an electric fire or equipment with wheels or castors to facilitate movement by the operator as required to perform its intended use 4 Portable appliance This is defined as an appliance that is intended to be moved whilst in operation or an appliance that can easily be moved whilst connected to the mains Vacuum cleaners toasters and kettles are examples of these Mains extension leads and IEC leads are classified as Portable appliances in their own right 5 Handheld appliance This is portable equipment intended to be held in the hand during normal use like a hair dryer drill or soldering iron Type of environment The location of equipment will finally determi2. AT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY Equipment Register This form is used to list all the electrical equipment in the premises Information such as Class or Il type of equipment and frequency of test is recorded A blank form is supplied and this can be photocopied and used if additional sheets are required The layout of this is shown below Reg Date Location Description Class Type Environ Frequency Added Formal Comb Visual Insp Insp Test OI OI Ol Kitchen Kettle Portable Office 2m 24m 2 OI OI Ol Sales PC l IT Office 24m 48m 3 0I 0I OI Sales Copier IT Office 24m 48m As new equipment is purchased this needs to be added to the register PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 10 OPERATION Once the above preparation work has been carried out the visual inspection and testing is quite straightforward It is important to prepare a Test Record for each piece of equipment A sample form is provided that can be photocopied and used as required This form will be used to record the history of visual inspection and testing On some equipment where the test result is marginal recording the actual reading will allow trends to be monitored and potential problems caught in time Formal Visual Inspection This can form an important part of in service testing The following is a list of faults to look for CABLE a Damage to power cable sheath b Any taped joints to the cable 2 APPLIANCE a Signs that the equipment
3. PAT IT Portable Appliance Tester User Manual Issue 1 6 First Stop 5 First Stop Safety Glaisdale Road Northminster Business Park Upper Poppleton York YO26 6QT t 01904 791050 f 01904 780054 e info firststopsafety co uk w www firststopsafety co uk FIRST STOP SAFETY CONTENTS SAFETY GETTING STARTED INTRODUCTION FEATURES PLANNING THE TESTS Determining the Class of construction Type of equipment Type of environment Frequency of visual inspection and testing Equipment Register OPERATION Formal Visual Inspection Testing Class equipment Testing Class Il equipment Testing IEC leads Testing mains extension leads Testing 10 V appliances Testing 3 phase appliances SPECIFICATION APPENDIX I Wiring of Mains Plug APPENDIX II Examples of Visual Inspection failures APPENDIX III Suggested Frequency of Inspection amp Testing of Equipment Additional notes on PAT IT use PAT IT Oo CONN DW O amp O 10 10 12 13 13 14 14 14 16 17 20 ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 2 SAFETY Please read this manual carefully to make yourself familiar with the capabilities and functions of the PAT IT before attempting to use it The PAT IT uses high voltages for some measurements and it is important that due care is taken during its use The PAT IT is designed to be used by suitably trained personnel However this manual contains all the information necessary to carry out in service testing of a
4. SUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 6 PLANNING THE TESTS Before commencing testing it is advisable to take a few minutes to plan One needs to assess whether the equipment is Class or Il the type of equipment the type of environment and then the frequency of inspection and testing required The Equipment Register then needs to be prepared Once this is completed one is ready to commence Inspection and Testing Please note that all mains extension leads are also to be included in the list IT equipment with detachable IEC leads can be tested together there is no need to test the lead separately However if there is a batch of IEC leads that can be used with any appliance it is important to test these as individual items Determining the Class of construction All equipment that uses mains electricity are categorised into two Classes Below are some guidelines on how to identify which Class an appliance belongs to Class Class Il Has E symbol Jv Uses 2 core mains cable J Uses an earth connection Knowing the Class of the equipment is important when planning the testing In general if the E symbol is present the equipment is Class Il and is built to a high standard of insulation If the symbol is missing assume that the equipment is Class and the safety is dependent on having a good earth connection Mains extension leads and IEC leads are treated as Class appliances
5. Under no circumstances must one proceed with the testing stage if a failure is found during the Formal Visual Inspection stage PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 12 Testing Class equipment The equipment to be tested is plugged into the mains socket on PAT IT The test clip is connected to any exposed metal on the equipment Note Some Class equipment may have exposed metal that is painted or enamelled and will not provide a good earth connection Some may in fact have no external earth connection at all like a vacuum cleaner If no external earth can be found then the Earth Continuity test will fail with the message CONNECTION FAIL Just make a note of this on the Test Record Operate the Class button The test will now run and the display will show the results for the Earth Continuity and Insulation tests The results are displayed for a few seconds before the display returns to its default state When the tests are performed it is important to put the on off button switch to the On position and flex the power lead to make sure that any loose connections are stressed and are picked up by the test The Earth Continuity test is repeated automatically to look for this PAT IT automatically assesses the test result for a pass or a fail Once the testing is complete record the results on the Test Record PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 13 Testing Class Il equipment The equipment to be tested is plugged i
6. esting extension leads greater than 5m you may get a FAIL indication during the Earth Continuity part of the IEC test For long extension leads you can ignore the FAIL for Earth Continuity and apply your own limits as set out below 15 to 25 metres less than 0 50 ohms is a PASS 25 to 40 metres less than 0 80 ohms is a PASS 40 to 50 metres less than 0 90 ohms is a PASS 2 ERROR 4 message If equipment is still plugged into the PAT IT when the PAT IT is powered up ERROR 4 is displayed on the LCD Unplug all equipment before powering up the PAT IT 3 Testing IEC leads or mains extension leads When these type of leads are being tested and both ends are plugged into the PAT IT then it is important to press the IEC button If you press the Class button then a false reading will result 4 Appliances with built in surge protection These appliances have protection devices that may cause an Insulation test result failure In this case the appliance must NOT be used until the manufacturer of the appliance is contacted and comes up with a satisfactory explanation PAT IT ISSUE 1 6
7. f Elik ilaria Hahi j Cartridge fuse IF LVE WIRE aari ilera y ny Cable grip should anchor the cable covering sheath not the mniema wines Cable cover sheath Thriail tht Carrcily winked Marit har wird Pusu it unum Cable les Plea PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 17 APPENDIX II Examples of Visual Inspection failures la Damage to power cable sheath 3a Damage to mains plug lb Taped joint of cable 3b Inadequate strain relief 7 line pho system mil 2c Evidence of overheating PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 18 APPENDIX III Suggested Frequency of Inspection and Testing of Equipment OFFICES SHOPS HOTELS NURSING HOMES Class Class Il Type Formal Combined Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test Visualinsp Insp amp test Stationary 24 months 48 months 24 months none IT 24 months 48 months 24 months none Movable 2 months 24 months 24months none Portable 2 months 24 months 24months none Handheld 6 months 12 months 6 months none SCHOOLS Class Class Il Type Formal Combined Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test Visual insp Insp amp test Stationary 2 months 12 months 2 months 48 months IT 12 months 12 months 2 months 48 months Movable 4 months 12 months 4 months 48 months Portable 4 months 12 months 4 months 48 months Handheld 4 months 12 months 4 months 48 months EQUIPMENT USED BY THE PUBLIC Class Class Il Type Formal Combined Formal Combined Visual i
8. has been subject to conditions for which it is not suitable e g wet or excessively rusty b Damage to external casing of the equipment or loose parts or screws c Evidence of overheating d Cable covering not being gripped 3 PLUG EXTERNAL a Damage to mains plug e g cracking to the casing or bent pins b Inadequate strain relief This is when the outer sheath of the cable is not effectively secured where it enters the plug Obvious evidence of this would be if the coloured insulation of the internal cable were showing PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 11 4 PLUG INTERNAL In addition to the above the plug cover if it is not moulded needs to be taken off and the following checked a That a fuse is being used b That cable terminations are correct see Appendix c The terminal screws are tight d No excessive bare wires are visible e That there are no signs of internal damage overheating or ingress of foreign matter f Check fuse rating If possible refer to manufacturer s user guide Otherwise follow guidelines below lt 700 W 3 Amp Fuse gt 700 W 13 Amp Fuse Some appliances may be fitted with a 5 Amp fuse In this case please leave this fuse fitted If the equipment fails on any of the above points then it must be taken out of service a Failed label applied and not used again until it has been properly repaired and tested Examples of some of these failures are given in Appendix Il
9. ll electrical appliances Therefore reading thismanual will provide adequate information to be able to carry out these tests If after reading this manual you are still not confident about carrying out the tests then please consider either attending one of our Demystifying Portable Appliance Testing courses held around the UK or Studying our Distance Learning Package on Portable Appliance Testing See our website for details www firststopsafety co uk 2 The unit is designed to be powered from a 230 V 50 Hz source The IEC Power Lead provided is fitted with a 5 Amp fused mains plug 3 Take great care not to plug the Mains IEC Lead to the IEC Lead Test Socket However if this should happen accidentally the unit is protected internally 4 There is no mains power on switch To isolate the unit from the mains either switch off at the mains socket or disconnect the IEC lead 5 There are no user serviceable parts in this unit Under no circumstances should the user attempt to open the unit If opened the warranty will be invalidated 6 The PAT IT is guaranteed for one year from the date of purchase Please keep your invoice as proof of purchase PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 3 SAFETY cont 7 Should the unit require a service repair or calibration please return it to First Stop Safety Glaisdale Road Northminster Business Park Upper Poppleton York YO26 6QT Tel 01904 791050 When returning the uni
10. ne the frequency of testing An item that is used in a low risk environment such as an office will not be subject to the same rigours as an item used on a construction site The different environments are e Offices shops hotels nursing homes e Schools e Equipment used by the public e Industrial including commercial kitchens e Construction sites PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 8 Frequency of visual inspection and testing It is not essential to carry out testing every year The guidelines allow for formal visual inspections to be carried out at planned intervals and combined visual inspection and testing to be carried out at longer intervals depending on the type of equipment being tested and the environment it is in Table below gives some intervals that are recommended for offices shops hotels and nursing homes Class Class Il Type Formal Combined Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test Visual insp Insp amp test Stationary 24 months 48 months 24 months none IT 24 months 48 months 24 months none Movable 12 months 24 months 24 months none Portable 12 months 24 months 24 months none Handheld 6 months 12 months 6 months none Table Exceptions to these time periods are e Items brought in by third parties e Items repaired e Items rented and test more frequently if items are e Moved regularly e Regularly failing inspection and testing Timescales for other environments can be found in Appendix III P
11. nsp Insp amp test Visual insp Insp amp test Stationary Monthly 12 months 3 months 2 months IT Monthly 12 months 3 months 2 months Movable Weekly 6 months months 2 months Portable Weekly 6 months months 12 months Handheld Weekly 6 months months 2 months PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY INDUSTRIAL COMMERCIAL KITCHENS Class Type Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test Stationary 2 months 12 months IT 2 months 12 months Movable months 12 months Portable months 6 months Handheld months 6 months CONSTRUCTION SITES Class Type Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test Stationary months 3 months IT months 3 months Portable months 3 months Movable months 3 months Handheld months 3 months Class Il Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test 2 months 12 months 2 months 12 months 3 months 12 months 3 months 6 months 3 months 6 months Class Il Formal Combined Visual insp Insp amp test months 3 months months 3 months months 3 months months 3 months months 3 months Source The Institute of Electrical Engineers Code of Practice for In service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 20 Additional notes on PAT IT use Testing long mains extension cables longer than 5m The PASS FAIL limits of the PAT IT are set to suit most appliances and mains extension leads found in the workplace However when t
12. nto the mains socket on PAT IT The test clip is connected to any exposed metal on the equipment if present Operate the Class Il button The test will now run and the display will show the results for the Insulation test The result is displayed for a few seconds before the display returns to its default state PAT IT automatically assesses the test result for a pass or a fail Once the testing is complete record the results on the Test Record Testing IEC leads When testing IT equipment with detachable IEC leads they can be tested together and there is no need to test the lead separately However if there is a batch of IEC leads that can be used with any appliance it is important to test these as individual items Plug the IEC lead into the top PAT IT mains and IEC sockets Operate the IEC button PAT IT will now test for Earth Continuity and correct Polarity and display the results PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 14 Use of Optional Accessories ask Sales for details Testing mains extension leads Short IEC lead This adaptor allows the testing of extension leads Plug the extension lead into the PAT IT Plug the adaptor into one of the sockets of the extension lead and also into the IEC testing socket on the PAT IT Press the IEC button to test Polarity and Earth Continuity Check all other sockets in the same manner Testing 10 V appliances 10 V adaptor This adaptor allows appliances with 10 V plug
13. s to be tested Just plug the adaptor into the PAT IT and connect the appliance to be tested into the yellow 10 V socket Then use the PAT IT as normal This adaptor is designed to be used only with the PAT IT for testing purposes under no circumstances is it to be connected to a mains outlet Testing 3 phase appliances 3 phase adaptor Various models available This adaptor allows appliances with 3 phase plugs to be tested Just plug the adaptor into the PAT IT and connect the appliance to be tested into the 3 phase socket Then use the PAT IT as normal This adaptor is designed to be used only with the PAT IT for testing purposes under no circumstances is it to be connected to a mains outlet A hard carry case and additional labels are available See our website www firststopsafety co uk or contact Sales for details PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 15 SPECIFICATION EARTH CONTINUITY TEST Measuring range 20 2000 mQ Resolution mQ Measuring Current 75 mA OC Voltage 5V Tolerance 5 20 mQ Fail Threshold gt 300 mQ INSULATION TEST Measuring range 0 5 20 MQ Resolution 0 1 MQ Test Voltage 500 V SC current lt 5mA Tolerance 5 0 1 Fail Threshold Class lt 2 MQ Fail Threshold Class Il lt 4MQ DIMENSIONS Height 65 mm Width 195 mm Depth 130 mm Weight 1 5 kg PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 16 APPENDIX I Wiring of Mains Plug irra Tey EARTH WIRE a Brean rollia NEUTRAL WIRE
14. such as kettles desk lights drills hairdryers etc If an appliance has a plug it can be tested on PAT IT The clear controls and displays make this instrument very easy to use The instructions labels and sample records supplied make it very easy for anyone to undertake safety testing on all electrical appliances The user has only to decide whether the equipment to be tested is built to a Class or Class Il construction The supplied test clip is connected and the appropriate button pressed When testing Class equipment the PAT IT will automatically cycle through the Earth Continuity and Insulation tests The results of these tests are then displayed with Pass Fail comments appropriate to Class equipment When Class II equipment is being tested just the Insulation test is carried out The result is displayed and assessed against the requirements for Class Il equipment An IEC lead test facility is also provided With the lead connected the IEC test button is pressed to carry out an Earth Continuity and a Polarity test PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY FEATURES PAT IT Aimed at testing IT and other electrical equipment Earth Continuity test using a low current Insulation test at 500 V Class I Class Il test button Automatic test cycle IEC cable test facility as standard Test results displayed on a 2 line display Supplied with test clip Supplied with sample test records Supplied with test result labels IS
15. t please contact the Sales Department to receive a Returns Number The owner will be advised of any costs prior to work commencing GETTING STARTED Before using the PAT IT please check that the following items have been included in the shipment e PAT IT Unit e IEC Power Lead e Test Clip e User Manual e Sample Equipment Register Form e Sample Equipment Test Record Form e Test Result Labels 100 Pass labels and 5 Failed labels e Other equipment may be included if PAT IT has been bought as part of a PAT Package Check for any damage in transit If there is any sign of damage please report it to your supplier and do not attempt to repair the unit The unit is factory set to be powered from a 230 V supply This is indicated on the rating plate Please ensure that the product is powered from the correct source The apparatus is constructed to CLASS I construction and requires a protective mains earth connection PAT IT ISSUE 1 6 FIRST STOP SAFETY 4 INTRODUCTION The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 EAW places certain requirements on employers designed to control risks that can arise from the use of electricity In practise this covers all in service electrical appliances and includes user checks formal visual inspection and combined inspection and testing The PAT IT is a compact Portable Appliance Tester aimed specifically at testing IT and office equipment It can be used to test other portable equipment
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