What Are the Types of Electrical Equipment Testing

Electricity is one of the wonders of modern living, but it is one of the most dangerous risks to be around or work with. It is also one of the common reasons for fires and electric shocks. Therefore, it requires that electrical installations need to be rigorously tested and maintained.

This article will walk readers through why is electrical equipment testing needed, the types of testing, and how to avoid the dangers of electricity at work.

Importance of Electrical Equipment Testing

Electricity after all is a powerful source of energy and one that can easily become unstable. Electrical hazards have the potential to cause huge damage to people or property, in severe cases they even cause death.

Electrical safety testing if implemented correctly can lead to design improvements and good technical documentation.

Below are some reasons emphasizing the importance of electrical equipment testing:

·         Minimizes the risk of injuries during the use of product/equipment

Testing the electrical equipment is significantly important, one of the key reasons to do so is that it reduces the risk of injuries. A thorough electrical safety test ensures whether or not the product is safe to use to avoid any kind of injury to people, places, or property.

·         Accredited electrical safety testing leads to greater safety

As the name tells accredited tests to lead to greater safety. There are numerous testing facilities to guarantee independent testing of the equipment and ensure it is safe to use.

To name a few, FORCE Technology is one of the professional organizations that ensure the test is undertaken in a correct manner including the trained personnel to ensure technical assessments are done as per the safety standards.

All in all, accredited and certified electrical equipment testing leads to better safety.

·         Improves technical documentation

Design documentation review is a significant part of electrical safety tests. The results of electrical safety tests are recorded in a test report and are collected in the product’s technical file. It is seen that it takes less than an hour to perform electrical equipment tests, examining the product and its documentation is what takes the most time.

This ensures that in case of equipment damage or injury, appropriate steps are taken to make the product safe and secure.

These are some of the points that show the importance of electrical equipment tests, let’s have a look at some of their types.

Type of Electrical Equipment Testing

Electrical equipment testing is a legal requirement that employers, managers, and business owners need to adhere to. They are required to ensure that their electrical equipment or systems are safe to use and risk-free to avoid any danger to the health and safety of the workers.

Below are some of the types of electrical testing, one must be aware of:

1.    Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR)

An Electrical Installation Condition Report or EICR is used to examine a building’s electrical and wiring systems to analyze their condition and usability. This involves completing the visual assessment to identify any damage to the system or equipment using visual clues. It also includes testing the dead wires to investigate the failsafe system and implementing necessary checks.

2.    Portable Appliance Testing (PAT)

The Portable Appliance Test or PAT test is one of the most recognizable electrical equipment tests to identify any fault in electrical equipment or products. PAT testing involves individual testing of individual electrical devices such as kettles, computers, portable heaters, or other devices.

The test involves checking for any plug, plug sockets, cables, or appliances that are powered by an electrical supply. Once this equipment shows the passed continuity, the electrician will be able to confirm their continuity. 

3.    Electrical Testing & Tagging

Testing and tagging are also among the popular types of electrical testing that refer to the inspection and labeling of electrical appliances. As part of electrical test and tag work, visual inspections, earth continuity tests, insulation resistance tests, leakage tests, and other such tests are conducted to ensure the equipment's safety.

Keeping the Record

Along with the types of electrical testing mentioned above, keeping a record of it is also significantly important for managing the safety and health of electrical systems and adhering to legal requirements and safety procedures.

What’s More

Being a business owner or the supervisor, you are also responsible for making sure that your staff members and workers are fully aware of safe working practices when it comes to implementing electrical safety practices at work.

This can be ensured by arranging proper staff training sessions both online and on-site. Some of the courses that can be offered in the workplace are electrical safety training, PAT testing course, Lock Out Tag Out training, electrical safety risk assessment training, fire awareness training, hazardous substances training, and more like these.

Final Thoughts

Workplace hazards could arise regardless of the nature or type of work. Electrical hazards are among the common ones to cause serious health risks. With proper knowledge and safety practices, the risk of injuries and damage can be avoided.