“How many items do you have for PAT testing?”
It sounds like a straightforward question – until you actually start counting!
If you’ve never arranged PAT testing before, estimating the number of electrical appliances within your business can be surprisingly difficult. That’s particularly true for larger offices, warehouses, schools and commercial premises where there may be hundreds, or even thousands, of items spread across different rooms and departments.
However, giving us a reasonably accurate estimate is really important.
It helps us calculate how long the work is likely to take, how many technicians may be required and, ultimately, provide you with an accurate quotation.
It’s Easy to Underestimate
One of the most common mistakes is only counting the obvious equipment.
Take a typical office desk, for example.
You might immediately count the computer as one item, but what about the monitor? Or perhaps two monitors? Then there’s the laptop charger, docking station, printer, shredder, desk lamp and other electrical equipment nearby.
Move into the staff kitchen and there could be a kettle, toaster, microwave, fridge and coffee machine.
Then there are meeting rooms, reception areas, storage rooms and other parts of the building.
Suddenly, what initially seemed like 100 items could be considerably more.
Why Does the Number Matter?
When we provide a quotation and schedule your PAT testing, the estimated number of items helps us determine how much time we need to allocate to your premises.
If we’re expecting 200 items but discover significantly more when we arrive, the appointment may take much longer than originally planned.
That can potentially affect other appointments scheduled for later in the day and, if there isn’t enough time available, it may mean we need to arrange another visit to complete the remaining testing.
Nobody wants that.
A realistic estimate from the outset allows us to allocate enough time and resources to complete the work as efficiently as possible.
What Should You Count?
Before contacting us for a PAT testing quotation, it can help to walk around your premises room by room and make a rough inventory.
Remember to look beyond computers and laptops. Depending on your workplace, electrical equipment could include:
- Computers and monitors
- Laptop and phone chargers
- Docking stations
- Printers and shredders
- Extension leads
- Desk lamps
- Kettles and coffee machines
- Microwaves and other kitchen appliances
- Cleaning equipment
- Portable heaters and fans
- Workshop or warehouse equipment
- Other plug-in electrical appliances
You don’t necessarily need a perfect item-by-item spreadsheet before contacting us, but taking some time to look around the whole premises can produce a much more useful estimate.
Don’t Forget Extension Leads
Extension leads are particularly easy to overlook.
You might see four computers plugged into an extension lead and count the computers, monitors and other equipment – but forget about the extension lead itself.
When you’re looking around your premises, checking underneath desks and behind equipment can help you spot items that aren’t immediately visible.
It’s also a good opportunity to make sure plugs and cables will be reasonably accessible when our technicians arrive.
Not Sure? Talk to Us
If you genuinely don’t know how many items you have, don’t worry.
Our administration team can talk through your premises and requirements with you and help establish a sensible estimate.
For larger or more complex sites, we can also determine whether further information may be useful before providing a quotation.
The aim isn’t to make you count every plug in the building with absolute precision. It’s simply to make sure we’re both working from a realistic idea of the size of the job.
A Better Estimate Means Better Planning
Taking a little time to estimate your PAT testing requirements can make a significant difference.
It allows us to provide a more accurate quotation, allocate the appropriate amount of time and plan our technicians’ working day effectively.
For you, that means a smoother appointment, fewer unexpected delays and a much better chance of completing all your PAT testing in a single visit.
So, before requesting your next PAT testing quote, take a quick walk around your premises. You may be surprised by just how many electrical items you find!
Find out more about our PAT testing and electrical services in the South West, or contact the TECC Ltd. team for a quotation.