Suggested Initial Frequency of Inspection and Testing of Electrical Appliances

Suggested Initial Frequency of Inspection and Testing of Electrical Appliances

Type of premises

Type of equipment

User checks Note 1

Class I (earthed)

Class II (double insulated) Note 3

Formal visual inspection Note 2

Combined inspection and testing Note 4

Formal visual inspection Note 2

Combined inspection and testing Note 4

Construction sites 110v equipment

Stationary

None

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

IT

None

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

Portable⁷

Weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

Hand-held⁷

Weekly

1 month

3 months

1 month

3 months

Industrial including commercial kitchens

Stationary

Weekly

None

12 months

None

12 months

IT

Weekly

None

12 months

None

12 months

Portable

Before use

1 month

6 months

3 months

6 months

Hand-held

Before use

1 month

6 months

3 months

6 months

Equipment used by the public

Stationary

Note 5

1 Month

12 months

3 months

12 months

IT

Note 5

1 Month

12 months

3 months

12 months

Portable

Note 5

Weekly

6 months

1 months

12 months

Hand-held

Note 5

Weekly

6 months

1 months

12 months

Schools

Stationary

Weekly⁶

None

12 months

12 months

48 months

IT

Weekly⁶

None

12 months

12 months

48 months

Portable

Weekly⁶

4 months

12 months

4 months

48 months

Hand-held

Before use⁶

4 months

12 months

4 months

48 months

Hotels Offices and shops

Stationary

None

24 months

48 months

24 months

None

IT

None

24 months

48 months

24 months

None

Portable

Weekly

12 months

24 months

24 months

None

Hand-held

Before use

6 months

12 months

6 months

None

Type of premises	Type of equipment	User checks Note 1	Class I (earthed)	Class II (double insulated) Note 3
Formal visual inspection Note 2	Combined inspection and testing Note 4	Formal visual inspection Note 2	Combined inspection and testing Note 4
Construction sites 110v equipment	Stationary	None	1 month	3 months	1 month	3 months
IT	None	1 month	3 months	1 month	3 months
Portable⁷	Weekly	1 month	3 months	1 month	3 months
Hand-held⁷	Weekly	1 month	3 months	1 month	3 months
Industrial including commercial kitchens	Stationary	Weekly	None	12 months	None	12 months
IT	Weekly	None	12 months	None	12 months
Portable	Before use	1 month	6 months	3 months	6 months
Hand-held	Before use	1 month	6 months	3 months	6 months
Equipment used by the public	Stationary	Note 5	1 Month	12 months	3 months	12 months
IT	Note 5	1 Month	12 months	3 months	12 months
Portable	Note 5	Weekly	6 months	1 months	12 months
Hand-held	Note 5	Weekly	6 months	1 months	12 months
Schools	Stationary	Weekly⁶	None	12 months	12 months	48 months
IT	Weekly⁶	None	12 months	12 months	48 months
Portable	Weekly⁶	4 months	12 months	4 months	48 months
Hand-held	Before use⁶	4 months	12 months	4 months	48 months
Hotels Offices and shops	Stationary	None	24 months	48 months	24 months	None
IT	None	24 months	48 months	24 months	None
Portable	Weekly	12 months	24 months	24 months	None
Hand-held	Before use	6 months	12 months	6 months	None

1. User checks are not recorded unless a fault is found.

2. The formal visual inspection may form part of the combined inspection and tests when they coincide, and must be recorded.

3. If class of equipment is not known, it must be tested as Class 1.

4. The results of combined inspections and tests are recorded.

5. For some equipment, such as children's rides, a daily check may be necessary.

6. By supervisor/teacher/member of staff.

7. 110v earthed centre tapped supply. 230v portable or hand-held equipment must be supplied via a 30mA RCD and the intervals between inspections and tests reduced.

'IT' refers to equipment such as personal computers, printers, photocopiers etc.

The information given above is more detailed and specific than HSE Guidance, but is consistent with it.