How often does PAT testing need doing?
Last reviewed 18 October 2026
There is no law that says portable appliances must be tested every year. The law requires electrical equipment to be maintained so that it is safe, and leaves the interval to you, based on risk. This guide covers what the law says, how to set an interval, and the intervals HSE suggests.
What the law actually requires
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical systems, including equipment, to be maintained so far as is reasonably practicable to prevent danger. The Provision and Use of Work Equipment Regulations 1998 add a duty to keep work equipment in efficient working order and good repair. Neither sets a testing frequency, and neither uses the phrase "PAT testing".
In practice, inspection and testing is how a duty holder shows they have maintained their equipment. HSE notes there is no legal requirement to keep records or label equipment, but a dated record of who inspected what, the results and any action taken is the evidence an insurer, landlord or client will ask for. It also shows you trends, so you can adjust your intervals.
Setting the interval from risk
The IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th edition) is the industry reference for choosing intervals. It asks you to consider:
- The environment. A construction site or workshop is much harder on equipment than an office.
- The users. Equipment used by the public or by children is more likely to be misused or damaged.
- The equipment class. Class I (earthed) equipment relies on its earth connection for safety. Class II (double-insulated) equipment does not.
- How the equipment is used. Hand-held items and items that are moved often get damaged more than fixed or stationary ones.
- The history. If inspections keep finding faults, shorten the interval. If they find nothing, you may be able to lengthen it.
Typical intervals for low-risk environments
HSE's leaflet Maintaining portable electrical equipment in low-risk environments (INDG236) gives suggested starting points for places like offices, shops and hotels. They are ranges, not rules:
| Equipment | User checks | Formal visual inspection | Combined inspection and test |
|---|---|---|---|
| Battery-operated (less than 40 V) | No | No | No |
| Extra low voltage (less than 50 V AC), e.g. telephone equipment, low-voltage desk lights | No | No | No |
| Desktop computers, VDU screens | No | Yes, 2 to 4 years | No if double insulated, otherwise up to 5 years |
| Photocopiers, fax machines (not hand-held, rarely moved) | No | Yes, 2 to 4 years | No if double insulated, otherwise up to 5 years |
| Double insulated (Class II), not hand-held, moved occasionally, e.g. fans, table lamps | No | Yes, 2 to 4 years | No |
| Double insulated (Class II), hand-held, e.g. some floor cleaners, some kitchen equipment | Yes | Yes, 6 months to 1 year | No |
| Earthed (Class I), e.g. electric kettles, some floor cleaners, some kitchen equipment and irons | Yes | Yes, 6 months to 1 year | Yes, 1 to 2 years |
| Cables (leads and plugs connected to the above), mains voltage extension leads and battery-charging equipment | Yes | Yes, 6 months to 4 years depending on the type of equipment it is connected to | Yes, 1 to 5 years depending on the type of equipment it is connected to |
Table 1 of HSE INDG236 (rev3), suggested initial intervals. HSE expects you to review them as results build up.
Higher-risk environments need much shorter intervals. Construction sites and heavy industrial use are commonly tested every few months, with equipment checked by the user before each use.
Do landlords have to PAT test?
In England there is no specific legal requirement for landlords to PAT test appliances they supply. Landlords do have general duties to make sure supplied appliances are safe, and many HMO licences and letting agents require a test as a condition. A periodic inspection and test of supplied appliances, with a record, is the usual way landlords demonstrate this.
PAT testing is separate from the EICR that the Electrical Safety Standards in the Private Rented Sector (England) Regulations 2020 require. The EICR covers the fixed installation, such as the wiring, consumer unit and sockets. It does not cover plug-in appliances.
Recording the interval
Whatever interval you choose, record it against each item with the reason for it, and record the next due date. In CertBase, each item has a next due date, and the dashboard shows which items are overdue or due soon.
Frequently asked questions
- Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
- No law requires PAT testing by name. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require equipment to be maintained to prevent danger, and inspection and testing is the usual way to show you have done that.
- Does PAT testing have to be done every year?
- No. The interval should be based on risk. For low-risk environments such as offices, HSE suggests initial intervals of one to five years for a combined inspection and test of earthed equipment and leads, depending on the type. Higher-risk environments such as construction sites need much shorter intervals.
- Does Class II equipment need PAT testing?
- HSE says Class II (double-insulated) equipment does not need a portable appliance test, but it still needs user checks and visual inspections, because the integrity of its casing is what keeps it safe.
This guide summarises the regulations and guidance it cites. It is not legal advice. Check the current versions of those documents before relying on it.