Bringing PAT Testing In-House: Could Your Organisation Save Money?
Train Your Own Staff to Carry Out PAT Testing with Confidence
If your organisation pays a 3rd party company to carry out PAT testing, you may have wondered whether someone on your own team could do it instead, especially if you're concerned about the cost, or wondering whether or not they've done a decent job.
For many schools, businesses, care homes and other organisations, that is a practical option. With suitable training, the right equipment and time allocated to the work, a member of staff can take responsibility for PAT Testing, save some money, and give you a better degree of safety.
It could reduce your ongoing contractor costs and give you more control over when the work happens. But where do you start?
Our practical, one-day PAT testing course is designed to help you do exactly that.
Find a PAT Testing Course Near You
Can We Really Do Our Own PAT Testing?
Yes — provided the person doing the work is competent for the equipment and tasks involved.
You do not necessarily need to employ a qualified electrician to inspect and test ordinary appliances connected by a plug. You do need someone who understands how to inspect equipment properly, select and carry out appropriate tests, interpret the results and recognise when something needs further investigation.
That is why practical training matters. Buying a PAT tester is only part of the job: the person using it needs to understand what the results mean.
Our courses start with the basics and build practical skills through hands-on experience. You do not need a previous electrical qualification to attend.
Read more about who can carry out PAT testing.
Who Could Take It On?
A caretaker, school technician, maintenance worker or facilities team member may be well placed to carry out PAT testing. In a smaller business, it might be the owner or another responsible member of staff.
The important thing is to choose someone who will approach the work carefully, keep sensible records and have enough time to do it properly.
Someone who already knows your premises and equipment can bring useful practical knowledge to the role. They know where appliances are kept, which departments are difficult to access and when work can be scheduled with the least disruption.
We regularly train people who are taking on PAT testing within their own organisation, so we understand the questions and concerns you are likely to have.
Will It Save Us Money?
It could — particularly if you have a substantial amount of equipment and a suitable member of staff available.
The sensible comparison is between what you currently spend on contractors and the full cost of doing the work yourselves.
You will need to allow for:
- Training.
- A suitable PAT tester and accessories.
- Staff time for inspection, testing and record keeping.
- Ongoing equipment maintenance and calibration, as appropriate.
In the first year, you have the initial cost of getting started. In subsequent years, you already have your tester and someone trained to use it, although you still need to allow for staff time, maintaining competence and equipment upkeep.
Before your next contractor visit, it is worth looking at the figures. Compare your latest invoice with the cost of training and equipment, then include the time your employee would need.
If you are unsure what equipment you would need, speak to us before buying anything. An expensive machine with lots of features is not automatically the best choice for your organisation.
Keep the Equipment Simple
You do not need an expensive PAT tester with all the bells and whistles to bring PAT testing in-house.
Our own engineers use a straightforward manual PAT tester and record their results using an Excel template. It is a practical approach, and we show you how it works on the course.
More expensive testers can store readings, download results and connect to specialist software. Those features may suit some organisations, but they are not essential for doing a thorough job. The important thing is to choose a tester that can carry out the appropriate tests on your equipment, and to understand how to use it properly.
Our advice is simple: buy what you need, rather than paying for features you may never use.
Straightforward Record Keeping
You do not need a complicated software package to keep useful PAT testing records. An Excel spreadsheet can provide a clear record of the equipment inspected, the date, the results and any action required.
On the course, we demonstrate how to use a manual tester and record the results, so you can see the whole process from inspecting an appliance through to completing the paperwork.
We also provide a free PAT testing record sheet to help you get started.
Speak to Us Before Buying a Tester
If you have not bought your equipment yet, there is no need to rush out and buy a machine before attending.
You will use PAT testing equipment during the course, and we can help you choose something suitable for the appliances you will be testing. If you already own a tester, bring it along and we can help you understand how to get the best from it.
Book your training first, try the equipment and get practical advice before spending money on your own kit.
Find a Course and Book Your Place
Will We Get a More Thorough Job?
Saving money is often the reason people book a course. But once they understand what proper inspection and testing involves, some start questioning the service they were getting before.
This comes up regularly on our courses. Delegates describe previous contractor visits and tell us they do not believe the equipment received the attention it should have.
A very low price per item might look attractive, but it is only good value if the work is carried out properly. Inspecting an appliance, carrying out appropriate tests and recording the results all take time. A sticker on its own tells you very little about how thoroughly the equipment was checked.
Bringing PAT testing in-house gives you more control over that process — provided your member of staff has suitable training and enough time to do the job carefully.
Even if you continue using a contractor, understanding the process puts you in a better position to ask monitor what they are doing, as useful questions and judge the service you receive.
Our practical course shows you what a proper PAT Testing process involves, so you can make informed decisions about your own equipment, and the service you receive.
You Can Fit the Work Around Your Organisation
Cost is only part of the decision.
An employee may be able to work through equipment in manageable sessions, fitting the task around access to rooms, opening hours and other duties.
In a school, for example, that could mean arranging work around classroom availability. In an office, it could mean agreeing convenient times with each department.
Having someone trained on site also gives you a person to turn to when a question arises about an appliance. They can assess matters within their competence and recognise when additional help is needed.
Bringing the work in-house does require planning. It works best when the employee has a clear responsibility and protected time for the task.
What About Inspections and Insurance Requirements?
For many organisations, PAT testing is already an established part of running their premises.
Schools may need to demonstrate how they manage electrical safety during OFSTED inspections. Care homes and dental practices may need evidence for their regulator or commissioning body. Insurers, landlords and customers may also set requirements for inspection, testing or supporting records.
These requirements matter. General advice about testing intervals should be considered alongside the actual conditions that apply to your organisation.
Bringing PAT testing in-house can help you keep on top of those responsibilities. A suitably trained employee can carry out work within their competence, maintain records and help ensure that equipment is checked when required.
Before changing your arrangements, check whether any relevant policy or contract specifies an interval, qualification or external contractor. Where in-house testing is acceptable, training a member of staff could give you a practical way to meet your requirements while reducing reliance on contractor visits.
Our course covers inspection, testing and straightforward record keeping, helping you put what you learn into practice back at work.
What Will We Learn on the Course?
At PAT Testing Expert, our courses focus on the practical work you will need to carry out when you return to your organisation.
You will learn about:
- Visual inspection and recognising common faults.
- Different equipment classes and appropriate tests.
- Using a PAT tester and understanding its readings.
- Making decisions about whether equipment is safe to use.
- Keeping straightforward records.
- Recognising the limits of your competence and when to seek help.
Every course is taught by Tim James, who has worked in PAT testing since 1986 and brings nearly 40 years of practical experience to the training.
You will get hands-on practice, a handbook to refer to afterwards and ongoing support when questions come up. If you already have a PAT tester, you are welcome to bring it along.
You can check locations, current prices and availability, and book online here:
View Upcoming PAT Testing Courses
Do We Have to Bring Everything In-House?
No. You can train someone to handle equipment within their competence and use a contractor for work requiring additional expertise.
Fixed or hard-wired equipment, unfamiliar specialist appliances and tasks involving safe isolation may need skills beyond an introductory PAT testing course.
You may also decide that a contractor remains the better option if staff cannot spare the time. Bringing PAT testing in-house should be a workable improvement for your organisation.
Join a Local Course — or Let Us Come to You
If you have one or two people to train, our scheduled courses at hotel venues across the UK are an easy way to get started. Anyone can book a place, and you will join a small group for a practical day of training.
If you have around six or more people to train, an on-site course can often be more cost-effective.
We regularly deliver courses at organisations’ own premises. As well as saving your team the journey to a course venue, this gives us the opportunity to relate the training to your equipment and working environment.
This can be particularly useful for organisations with several sites, or groups of schools wanting to train caretakers and technicians together.
To discuss an on-site course, call us on 01482 738826 or enquire about training at your premises. Tell us where you are based and roughly how many people need training, and we can help you compare the options.
Ready to Get Started?
If you have been thinking about bringing PAT testing in-house, the first step is to train the person who will carry out the work.
Our friendly, practical courses give beginners the opportunity to learn, practise and ask questions before taking on the task at work. We also help you choose suitable equipment and provide support afterwards.
Choose a convenient location and book your place on an upcoming course.
Find Your Course and Book Online
Have a team to train, or want to talk through your requirements first? Call us on 01482 738826. Tell us what equipment you have and who you are thinking of training, and we will help you work out the next step.