Print

[balkissock]

We run a Guest Accommodation near Ballantrae South Ayrshire, by trade I am  domestic appliance engineer experianced in Portable Appliance Testing, if you require advise on such matters please check out our web site www.balkissocklodge.co.uk for contact details.
Howard Galley

[mandarin]

When we had our Fire Brigade visit we were advised that PAT testing whilst recommended was not a requirement the Brigade would insist upon.

As long as you are aware of what is covered, make a visual inspection and replace any thing suspect you should be fine.

Here in the Borders, we found it's actually cheaper to buy a new kettle for guest rooms than it is ti have it tested, the man from the FB agreed.

Common sense in what should be used, testing for the sake of testing is, in my opinion, not needed.


.

[balkissock]

As a business by law you are obligued to protect guests and employees form eletrical shock, ie. untested appliances.
If you are unclear about Portable appliance Testing, contact your local HSE for more information.
I my self have come across wrongly wired plug tops ( earth and neutral wrong way round)in a Guest House, which made a kettle body LIVE when switched on, this was in the Scottish Borders.
You may familiar with electrics, I'm pleased you do a visual inspection (hope you keep a note of it) but not every body is.

[mandarin]

Must have been an old kettle if plug had been manually wired wrongly. The cable chould have been disposaed of and replaced with a safer moulded plug.

The rules of PAT are easy to follow. However, most people will be guided by Fire Brigade advice which is offered free of charge and considered impartial.

An electricial in the Borders started bombarded businesses with emails suggesting all sorts of problems, legal actions etc if you did not get it done.

He was quoting £500 a house. PAT should cost no more than £1 per appliance.

[balkissock]

I completely agree with you, £1 per appliance is what I charge - around £40/50 per guest house not £500, these people give some one like me a bad name.
My wife and I bought a guest house last year - just beginning to realise how hard it is to run one, expenses and all.