When you’re carrying out PAT testing, having the right equipment is important – but making sure that equipment continues to provide accurate and reliable readings is just as important.

At TECC Ltd., our technicians currently use Seaward Apollo 600 testers to carry out PAT testing for our customers.

But we don’t simply use our testers day after day and assume they’re still working accurately. Every one of our testers is professionally calibrated each year.

So, what does calibration actually mean, and why do we do it?

Why Is Calibration Important?

PAT testing equipment is used to take electrical measurements that help our technicians determine whether an appliance is safe to continue using.

Naturally, we need to be confident that those measurements are accurate.

Regular calibration checks that our test equipment is continuing to perform within the appropriate specifications and helps reduce the risk of inaccurate results or incorrect readings.

In simple terms, if we’re relying on a tester to tell us whether an appliance has passed or failed, we need to be able to rely on the tester itself.

That’s why calibration forms an important part of our approach to PAT testing at TECC Ltd.

We Don’t Just Check Them Once a Year

Although our Apollo 600 testers are professionally calibrated annually, we don’t wait until their next calibration date to consider their accuracy.

Every couple of months, we also use Seaward PAT testing calibration checkboxes.

These provide a quick and straightforward way of checking that our testers continue to give the expected readings during the period between their annual calibrations.

It’s another layer of quality control that gives both our technicians and our customers greater confidence in the PAT testing we carry out.

Is Annual Calibration a Legal Requirement?

There isn’t a specific legal requirement stating that PAT testing equipment must be calibrated once every year.

However, businesses carrying out electrical testing need to have appropriate systems in place to maintain the accuracy and consistency of the equipment they use.

The IET’s Electrotechnical Assessment Specification for Use by Certification and Registration Bodies states:

“The Enterprise shall be required to have a suitable system in place to ensure that the accuracy and consistency of all test instruments used for certification and reporting purposes is being maintained.”

For TECC Ltd., annual professional calibration, combined with regular checks throughout the year, is how we help ensure our PAT testing equipment remains accurate and dependable.

It’s All Part of Doing the Job Properly

Calibration might be something our customers rarely see, but it’s an important part of what happens behind the scenes.

When one of our technicians arrives at your premises to carry out PAT testing, we want you to have confidence not only in the person carrying out the work, but also in the equipment they’re using.

Keeping our testers regularly checked and calibrated helps us provide accurate results, maintain high standards and deliver a PAT testing service our customers can rely on.

If you would like to talk to us about PAT testing or any of our other electrical services, please contact us. Our friendly team looks forward to hearing from you.