PAT Testing in Schools

Working at a school means you have a duty of care for your students and staff.

Part of this duty of care includes maintaining a safe working environment for everyone on the premises. This environment includes any electrical equipment that is might be used by staff and students.

PAT testing in schools is essential for the ongoing safety of teachers and students across New Zealand. For details about our portable appliance testing services, take a look at our PAT testing NZ page.

For more information about what you should be doing for your school, check out the rest of our article and get in touch with us if you have any questions.

At Jim’s Test & Tag, we are committed to the ongoing safety of students and workers all around New Zealand.

Testing and Tagging in Schools

So, what are your obligations when it comes to PAT testing in schools?

According to the Department of Education, the following equipment must be tested in schools:

any equipment that is designed to be plugged in to low voltage power supply
portable power boards
extension cords
battery chargers
heavy duty tools
RCDs

You do not have to test the equipment if it is fixed and wired directly into the wall. You don’t have to test the cabling that runs through your building (under PAT testing standards) but you should maintain safety in your entire building through regular structural maintenance.

For more information about health and safety legislation pertaining to schools, take a look at this guide from the Department of Education.

Not everyone can complete portable appliance testing in schools — you need to have proper training. That’s where we come in.

At Jim’s Test & Tag, we have a team of highly trained technicians who complete all tests according to current New Zealand safety standards. To ensure the safety of your school, look no further.

Equipment Testing Rules

While testing equipment in New Zealand schools, we work according to the AS/NZS 3760:2010 standard. This gives us rules about the frequency of inspections and which types of equipment need to be tested.

After each test is complete, the service tag needs to be attached and updated. This is essential in every working environment, and especially when PAT testing in schools.

The tag lets everyone know when the last test was completed and whether it was deemed safe to use. If you come across a piece of equipment that doesn’t have a service tag, you will immediately know that it shouldn’t be in use.

It is a fast and fail-safe way to make sure all equipment has been properly tested before use.

Remember that if students are bringing their own appliances to school, they need to be tested and tagged too. Any hair dryers, straighteners, laptop chargers, phone chargers and portable speakers will need to be tested and tagged before they are plugged in on school property.

Other common items that need to be tested and tagged include: