Any PAT testers out there, Oxfordshire area?

[Squirrelofwoe]

Bit of a long shot and I assume it's OK to ask on here?

Is there anyone vaguely local to the Oxfordshire area able to PAT test approx 30 items but at very short notice (as in the next few days)?

I've been let down by someone who was supposed to be doing it over the weekend (they've gone AWOL), and I'm now in a bit of a bind as it needs to be done by the end of this week (the sooner the better).

I'm 100% flexible on times and can bring the equipment to the tester if it's easier (it's mobile DJ equipment).

I've emailed a few local firms this morning but I thought it worth asking on here given we seem to have such a wide cross-section of people

[Simpo Two]

If you have a local charity that sells electrical items they may have a tame PAT tester - who might help out in return for a donation. Just an idea.

[silverous]

I don't know if he still serves the Oxfordshire area (I use him in MK but he did have an office in Thame at one point) but Ben Quarman I've used a lot for domestic work and I believe he does PAT testing.
[e-mail] or 01908 749168.

[Squirrelofwoe]

Ta for the suggestions guys, I've now got someone coming round at 4.30pm today, not the cheapest but can't complain at that kind of service.

[AshW]

It is not a legal requirement.

Trust me, don't bother.

[Squirrelofwoe]

AshW said:

It is not a legal requirement.

Trust me, don't bother.

To be fair we've been tested for almost 4 years and not once have we been asked about it- until now.

The venue we are playing at on Saturday have insisted upon seeing our PAT certification to let us play there, so not bothering isn't really an option. In any event I could have given them our existing cert as it runs til Feb-16, but as we upgraded 75% of our kit this year it's kind of meaningless now so I figured we may as well get it re-done and up to date.

When the client who books us says that the venue has asked them to see our certificate, trying to debate the validity/legality of PAT testing with them wouldn't really give the right impression, and professionalism goes a long way in this industry- particularly when every man with an iPod & a pair of speakers calls themselves a DJ these days

[silverous]

I am always quite impressed when a tester puts a sticker on a PC that I've forgotten to log out and impressively it is still logged in - I have a feeling they test x% of the devices and sticker all of them..... that might just be the one we use.

[TwistingMyMelon]

Agreed its not necessary, but obvs some places insist its done, hence your issue OP!

In regards to the PC being on, they do a "visual check" with turned on equipment such as PCs and Servers and this passes as PAT tested, at least this was the case a few years back

[Cyberprog]

AshW said:

It is not a legal requirement.

Trust me, don't bother.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. The best way to prove this, is to have an inspection & test regime, and one way to do that is to do a portable appliance test (I hate people who refer to it as a PAT test!) at a suitable interval based upon the equipment and it's likelihood of needing to be tested. Many hire shops perform a PAT on every item as it goes out now.

[skeggysteve]

Cyberprog said:

AshW said:

It is not a legal requirement.

Trust me, don't bother.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that any electrical equipment that has the potential to cause injury is maintained in a safe condition. The best way to prove this, is to have an inspection & test regime, and one way to do that is to do a portable appliance test (I hate people who refer to it as a PAT test!) at a suitable interval based upon the equipment and it's likelihood of needing to be tested. Many hire shops perform a PAT on every item as it goes out now.

I agree with both of you!

Couple of years ago I research PA tests and it's very simple. A portable appliance can be described as something that is portable ie has a plug on it.

Any competent person can 'test' the appliance ie look at the appliance, plug and wire to see if it has any damage.

But the appliance should have a sticker (available online from the likes of RS) applied with the date, appliance number and testers name etc. on it and a record kept of this.

For a business it is in their best interest to get an outside contractor in to do the testing as it gives a level of security if something does go wrong.

In the OP case if the venue says they need to see a green sticker then it's up to the OP.If he decides that he is a competent person and is happy to test the equipment then fine.

[Squirrelofwoe]

skeggysteve said:

In the OP case if the venue says they need to see a green sticker then it's up to the OP.If he decides that he is a competent person and is happy to test the equipment then fine.

It's not so much about the green stickers as I highly doubt anyone will come and check all the gear on the night- if anyone from the venue is even there at all. It's the fact they have requested our certificate in advance of the gig in order for them to permit us to play there which makes it more of a requirement.

I've no doubt that all our equipment is fine, the majority if it is less than a year old and with stuff getting updated frequently none of it is older than 3. Not to mention that something failing during a gig is something we want to avoid, so everything is always properly maintained.

In fact if anything it is potentially dodgy wiring at venues being a threat to our equipment that concerns me more - hence we always carry 'plug-in' mains testers, and this has identified broken & incorrectly wired plugs on more than one occasion!

[Cyberprog]

Squirrelofwoe said:

It's not so much about the green stickers as I highly doubt anyone will come and check all the gear on the night- if anyone from the venue is even there at all. It's the fact they have requested our certificate in advance of the gig in order for them to permit us to play there which makes it more of a requirement.

I've no doubt that all our equipment is fine, the majority if it is less than a year old and with stuff getting updated frequently none of it is older than 3. Not to mention that something failing during a gig is something we want to avoid, so everything is always properly maintained.

In fact if anything it is potentially dodgy wiring at venues being a threat to our equipment that concerns me more - hence we always carry 'plug-in' mains testers, and this has identified broken & incorrectly wired plugs on more than one occasion!

When I used to do venue electrics, I was on occasion required to test a few items when they turned up without stickers (and late!). Needless to say most failed the visual inspection and my tester remained in the bag...