Guide
PAT testing requirements for care homes
There's no law that says "PAT test every year", but care homes do have a legal duty to keep electrical equipment safe. Here's what that means in practice.
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Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
Not in those words. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems and equipment to be maintained so as to prevent danger. The Regulations don't say how, or how often. Inspection and testing of portable equipment is the accepted way of meeting the duty, and keeping records of it is how you show you've met it.
Care homes also have duties under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act 1974, PUWER and, for CQC-registered services, Regulation 15 on premises and equipment. Inspectors and insurers will expect to see that electrical equipment is checked.
How often should a care home PAT test?
There's no fixed interval. The IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment recommends deciding intervals by risk: how the equipment is used, how often it's moved, the environment, and who uses it. In a care home, that usually means:
| Equipment | Typical approach |
|---|---|
| Equipment used by residents, or moved around often (kettles, hairdryers, fans, heaters) | Formal inspection and test at least yearly, with regular staff visual checks |
| Kitchen and laundry appliances | Formal inspection and test at least yearly |
| Office and IT equipment that rarely moves | Less frequent testing, with regular visual checks |
| Residents' own appliances | Checked before first use, then included in your schedule |
| Medical electrical equipment (beds, hoist chargers, mattress pumps) | Inspected and tested as part of its regular service |
Residents' own appliances
Residents often bring their own TVs, radios, lamps, chargers and electric blankets. These are used in your building, so they're part of your duty. Check them before first use, add them to your register and include them in your testing schedule. Some homes ask families to let them know before bringing new electrical items in.
Visual checks matter
Many electrical faults can be spotted by eye: damaged cables, cracked plugs, scorch marks, loose parts. Training staff to check equipment before use, and to take damaged items out of service immediately, is one of the most effective safety measures you can take.
Medical electrical equipment
Profiling beds, hoist chargers, dynamic mattress pumps and other medical electrical equipment are more than portable appliances. They should be inspected and tested in a way that suits medical equipment, normally during their scheduled service, rather than with a basic plug-in test alone.
PAT testing from Shepherd
We inspect and test portable appliances and medical electrical equipment on the same visit as your equipment servicing, with a label on every item and a full electronic register. PAT testing starts from £1.50 + VAT per item.
FAQs
PAT testing questions
Do new appliances need PAT testing?
New equipment should be visually checked before use and added to your register. A formal test isn't usually needed straight away, but it should be included in your testing schedule.
Can our own staff do PAT testing?
Visual checks can be done by trained staff. Formal inspection and testing should be carried out by someone competent, with the right equipment and training.
What happens to items that fail?
They're labelled as failed and should be taken out of use immediately, then repaired by someone competent or replaced.
Keep every bed, hoist and chair safe, compliant and working
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