Has PAT Testing Really Changed It's Name?

If you spend any time reading articles about PAT Testing, you will quickly come across the claim that "PAT Testing is no longer called PAT Testing" or that it has been replaced by Electrical Equipment Testing (EET).

The argument is often presented as an established fact. Some organisations even state that PAT Testing has officially changed its name.

But has it really?

Tutorials

Prefer to watch rather than read? Have a watch of this video which Tim made a couple of years back explaining this issue.

If you spend any time reading articles online about PAT Testing, you will soon come across a familiar claim:

"PAT Testing is no longer called PAT Testing."

Some organisations now refer to Electrical Equipment Testing (EET), while others use the full title from the IET Code of Practice: In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

The implication is often that PAT Testing is somehow an outdated term that has been replaced by something newer and more correct.

As someone who first learned PAT Testing in 1986, has been teaching PAT Testing courses since 1993, and who was a contributor to the 5th Edition of the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, I believe the situation is rather more nuanced than many websites suggest.

The question is not whether Electrical Equipment Testing is a valid term. It is.

The real question is whether PAT Testing has actually changed its name.

Understanding The Electrical System

To understand where the confusion comes from, we need to take a step back and look at the electrical system as a whole.

Most workplaces contain two broad categories of electrical system.

The Electrical Installation

This includes:

Fixed wiring
Distribution boards
Socket circuits
Lighting circuits

The inspection and testing of these systems is generally carried out as part of an Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR).

Most people would agree that this work should be undertaken by suitably qualified electricians with specialist knowledge of electrical installations.

Electrical Equipment

The second category is the equipment connected to the electrical installation.

This includes:

Computers
Kettles
Printers
Extension leads
Hand dryers
Water boilers
Wall heaters
Machinery

This is where the IET Code of Practice applies.

However, electrical equipment can itself be divided into two separate categories.

Portable Equipment

Most electrical equipment is connected via a plug and socket.

Examples include:

Computers
Monitors
Kettles
Vacuum cleaners
Extension leads
Portable power tools

This is the type of equipment most people associate with PAT Testing.

Fixed Equipment

Some electrical equipment is permanently connected to the electrical supply.

Examples include:

Hand dryers
Wall-mounted heaters
Fixed water boilers
Extraction systems
Machinery

These appliances may still require inspection and testing, but they are connected differently and often require additional competence and safe isolation procedures before testing can be carried out.

This is often referred to as Fixed Appliance Testing (FAT).

PAT Testing Is A Subset Of Electrical Equipment Testing

This is the point that many articles overlook.

Electrical Equipment Testing is a broad term that can describe the inspection and testing of all electrical equipment, regardless of how it is connected to the supply.

PAT Testing is more specific.

It refers to the inspection and testing of equipment connected via a plug and socket.

Put simply:

Electrical Equipment Testing (EET) is ALL electrical equipment, fixed and portable
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) is just items connected with a plug and socket.

The two terms are related, but they are not interchangeable.

Where The Confusion Began

Many articles claim that the IET replaced the term PAT Testing because the scope of the Code of Practice expanded to include fixed equipment.

However, this explanation overlooks an important fact.

The Code of Practice has never been limited solely to portable appliances.

For many years, the Code has recognised that some electrical equipment is connected via a plug and socket while other equipment is permanently connected to the supply.

The reason the Code of Practice uses broader terminology is not because PAT Testing was abolished or replaced.

It is because the document applies to all electrical equipment.

In fact, one of the concerns discussed during the development of the latest edition was that some organisations mistakenly assumed the Code only applied to portable appliances.

The use of broader terminology helps reinforce the fact that fixed equipment would also require inspection and testing.

That is very different from saying that PAT Testing has changed its name.

Why The Term PAT Testing Still Exists

PAT Testing is certainly not a perfect term.

Critics often point out that:

Many faults are found during visual inspection rather than electrical testing.
Some equipment included in a PAT programme may not be truly portable.
The phrase itself contains a redundant acronym (Portable Appliance Testing Testing)

These are all fair observations.

However, language develops through common usage.

For more than thirty years, the term PAT Testing has been widely understood throughout the UK.

Businesses use it.

Training providers use it.

Equipment manufacturers use it.

Government departments use it.

The Health and Safety Executive uses it.

The term has become established shorthand for the inspection and testing of portable electrical equipment.

When a customer asks for PAT Testing, everyone understands what they mean.

Why This Matters

At first glance, the debate may seem trivial.

However, misunderstandings about terminology can sometimes lead to misunderstandings about competence.

One unintended consequence has been that some people assume a PAT tester should automatically be testing fixed equipment as well.

In reality, fixed equipment often requires additional competence, safe isolation procedures and a different skill set.

Understanding the distinction between portable and fixed equipment is far more important than arguing about terminology.

So Has PAT Testing Changed Its Name?

No.

Electrical Equipment Testing is a useful umbrella term covering the inspection and testing of all electrical equipment.

PAT Testing remains a valid and widely recognised term describing the inspection and testing of equipment connected via a plug and socket.

The two terms are not competitors.

One is simply broader than the other.

The real lesson is not that PAT Testing has changed its name.

The real lesson is that electrical equipment safety extends beyond portable appliances and may also include fixed equipment connected directly to the electrical installation.

After more than thirty years of widespread use, PAT Testing remains one of the most recognised terms in electrical safety.

Despite its imperfections, it continues to describe an important activity carried out every day in workplaces across the UK.

Quite simply, PAT Testing is still here to stay.

About The Author

Tim James first learned PAT Testing in 1986 and has been teaching PAT Testing courses since 1993. He is Standards Director of PATTA and was a contributor to the 5th Edition IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment.

Read more about Tim James here → Meet the Expert