Portable Appliance Testing
(PAT Testing) Explained

Portable Appliance Testing, or PAT testing as it is commonly known, is a legal requirement (Electricity at Work Act 1989) for businesses taking electrical equipment into third party premises. Certification is required from a certified competent PAT testing individual or company to confirm that all items of electrical equipment, including cables, that require a mains electricity supply have been tested for safety and labelled accordingly. PAT testing is generally carried out annually for sound and lighting equipment.

Karaoke suppliers will usually have a wide variety of equipment that requires PAT testing, including CD players, radio receivers, mixers, speakers, computers, lighting, TVs, extension cables and so on.

It is important to be aware that some venues insist that suppliers entering their premises have PAT certification for all of their equipment. Some will refuse access should certification not be shown upon arrival or sent in advance. This can obviously be very embarrassing and can easily ruin a planned event if this requirement is not checked beforehand.

Always check that your supplier has their equipment PAT tested annually and either carries up-to-date certification with them or, if required by the venue, sends it in advance to your venue. This will ensure their access to your venue is not refused and that their equipment is certified as safe to use.

PAT testing is generally also required to ensure that the conditions of a supplier's insurance provider are met.

Solar Entertainments have the required PAT testing equipment and are registered as competent to PAT test our own equipment and do so on an annual basis. We carry certification at all times and can send in advance to any venue requesting this.