The need to ensure the operational status of an electrical apparatus applies to any situation, especially where public safety is a concern. The Electricity at Work Regulations enacted in the United Kingdom in 1989 updated the standards by which electrical devices of all kinds were to be maintained by using a set of testing guidelines that could be applied in both public and private environments. The term Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is often used to describe the process for testing electrical components, instruments, and tools. The use of PAT test stickers is a part of this process.
The original method of inspecting electrically-powered machines and industrial tools basically involved a visual inspection and the posting of a placard to reflect the status of the device. This method was eventually updated to include the use of PAT test stickers as more devices came into use in manufacturing and in public applications as well. The proliferation of electrical components in a wide spectrum of applications led to the standardisation of testing and reporting procedures that depend upon the frequency of use, as well as the potential hazard to employees of a company or to the public-at-large.
The PAT methodology, more properly referred to as In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, includes the regular inspection of all the various types of electrical devices and a system of a visual reporting of the test results. The type of electrical device will dictate the type of testing performed, as well as the type of PAT test stickers used. Generally speaking, the larger appliances of a lesser degree of sophistication in circuitry, such as refrigerators, will require less frequent testing that focuses on the power lead itself. In these cases, a plug top PAT test sticker will be applied to the lead.
Devices of a more intricate or expansive circuitry design will require more frequent testing that includes examination of both the internal and external wiring of the device. Herein lies a certain unintended confusion as to the use of the term "portable appliance", which can refer to the device or to the testing tool itself. The performance of a PAT test can apply to a permanently fixed machine as well as to a smaller electrical instrument or tool, such as an industrial drill or a component of a robotic assembly apparatus on a production line in a factory.
PAT test stickers are designed to accommodate a variety of testing procedures. In some cases, a regular visual inspection of a power lead is all that is required, as on a computer or a duplicating machine in an office environment. The sticker will be placed on the power lead plug or will be of the type of PAT test stickers that are wrapped around the lead and affixed by means of an adhesive backing. These stickers will have just the minimum amount of information, such as the date of the test and the identification of the testing entity.
PAT test stickers that allow for more in-depth information are often used on electrical devices that require more frequent and more thorough inspections, such as on hospital instruments or manufacturing components that are more sophisticated. The potential for very hazardous scenarios due to electrical fire, as in chemical manufacturing and processing, requires more intensive testing as well. PAT test stickers in these applications will provide the status of the device, including "pass", "fail" or "do not use after (a certain date)", as well as the name of the inspector, their ID number, their contact information, and the next required test date.
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