ITEE – Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment
(Formerly PAT Testing) A Legal Requirement | BS 7671 | IET 5th Edition Code of Practice
Yes, It Is The Law And It Has Evolved.
Employers have a legal obligation to ensure all electrical equipment in their workplace is safe to use. That has always been the case under:
- Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
- Health and Safety at Work Act 1974
For years this was known as PAT Testing. But with the release of the 5th Edition of the IET Code of Practice, the terminology officially changed to ITEE, Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, sometimes also referred to as EET, Electrical Equipment Testing.
This is not just a rebrand. It reflects a broader and more serious approach to electrical safety. All electrical equipment that could pose a risk now falls within scope, not just portable appliances.
Your insurance company expects this to be part of your Health and Safety compliance pack. Do not believe us? Give them a ring.
Why Did The Name Change From PAT Testing To ITEE?
Because the old name was causing real problems. PAT Testing, Portable Appliance Testing, gave the impression that only small moveable items needed checking. Kettles, laptops, phone chargers. That was never the full picture but it is what most people assumed.
The new terminology makes it clear. If it plugs into the mains and could pose a risk, it needs inspecting and testing. No grey areas and no excuses.
A True Story From 2021
Here is a real example of why this shift matters and why it is not just semantics.
We were regularly testing a large insurance firm’s office in the City. Each desk had a phone charger with a detachable USB cable. The chargers were tested but the USB cables were not, as per the old guidelines at the time.
We noticed many of these cables were frayed at the ends, exposing inner wiring and running very hot because staff left them plugged in around the clock. We flagged it as an advisory.
During a planned weekend shutdown for EICR and RCD testing, one of those cables overheated and caused a fire. Thankfully the sprinkler system activated and stopped it from escalating.
Since then we have incorporated visual checks of those cables into the client’s routine inspections. Companies now replace hundreds of them every year following our reports. Under the new ITEE guidelines, cables like these are officially included in the testing scope. That is real safety progress.
Who Needs PAT Testing Or ITEE?
Electrical equipment testing is a legal requirement across virtually every sector and not just large corporations. Whether you’re managing a busy site with hundreds of devices or a small operation with a handful of appliances, your obligations are the same.
TISS Electrical works with organisations across a wide range of industries, including:
Banks and financial institutions sit among the most compliance conscious environments in the UK, yet dense workstation setups, server rooms, and client facing equipment all still require a formal, documented inspection schedule.
Schools and educational settings carry significant responsibility for the safety of both pupils and staff. From computer labs to staff rooms, routine ITEE testing is not optional, it’s an obligation.
Offices are where the risks are easiest to overlook. As the story above shows, even the most routine equipment can pose a serious hazard. Desks, monitors, chargers, and shared devices all fall within scope.
Call centres typically run dozens or hundreds of workstations continuously, making them one of the highest equipment volume environments of any single site type.
Care homes operate around the clock, with residents and staff depending on electrical equipment at all hours. Operators face a heightened duty of care, and insurers expect robust compliance documentation as standard.
Hotels present unique challenges: high room turnover, equipment in use 24/7, and appliances spread across multiple floors, facilities, and guest facing areas.
Restaurants and hospitality venues must account for kitchen equipment, front of house devices and back office appliances, all of which fall under ITEE scope. Non compliance can affect your insurance and your licence.
Landlords, whether managing residential or commercial properties, have legal obligations to ensure any electrical equipment provided to tenants is safe and has been properly tested.
Small businesses are not exempt by virtue of their size. Whether you’re a sole trader with a single office or a growing team across multiple locations, PAT testing is a legal requirement from day one.
Need Help With PAT Testing?
If you need help with PAT testing for your business, get in touch with our team today. We carry out thousands of tests every month and have experienced teams of engineers ready to handle everything from small sites to large, high-volume projects quickly and efficiently.
Whether you’re based in Essex, Suffolk, Cambridgeshire or anywhere else in the UK, we’re here to help. Give us a call at 01245 377 625.