PAT test stickers and appliance registers are common, but many businesses assume they are a specific legal requirement. HSE guidance says otherwise.
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Are PAT labels required by law?
No. HSE states that there is no general legal requirement to label equipment that has been inspected or tested.
Are PAT testing records legally required?
HSE also says there is no general legal requirement to keep PAT maintenance logs or test records for portable electrical equipment. However, records can be extremely useful as a management tool.
Why keep records if they are not compulsory?
A useful record can help an organisation:
- See what equipment was inspected or tested
- Identify failed or damaged appliances
- Monitor recurring faults
- Review whether the maintenance programme is effective
- Use previous results when deciding future inspection intervals
- Demonstrate that an organised maintenance system exists
What should a PAT label show?
Where a label is used, HSE guidance says it can indicate that the equipment passed inspection/testing and when the work was carried out.
Should the label show a “next test due” date?
HSE advises against putting a next-test-due date on the label. The next inspection or test interval should be decided by the dutyholder based on risk, not automatically fixed by the person carrying out the test.
Digital records vs paper records
Digital records are often easier for businesses with many appliances or multiple sites because they can be searched, grouped by location and reviewed over time.
Our property and facilities management service is designed for this kind of multi-site reporting.
Official HSE guidance
See the HSE PAT FAQ and HSG107 for the official position on records and labelling.
Need clear digital PAT records?
National PAT Compliance supplies clear test results as part of our PAT testing service. Request a quotation.