PAT versus EICR: Which Checks Do You Need?

A failed kettle in a staff kitchen and a damaged socket on the wall may both involve electricity, but they are not checked in the same way. This is the practical difference in the PAT versus EICR question: PAT testing looks at portable appliances, while an EICR examines the fixed electrical installation that powers them.

For a business, school, charity, landlord or healthcare practice, understanding the distinction helps you arrange the right work, keep useful records and avoid assuming one certificate covers everything. In many premises, PAT testing and an EICR work alongside each other rather than competing.

PAT versus EICR: the simple difference

PAT stands for Portable Appliance Testing. It is a process for checking electrical equipment that is plugged into a socket or otherwise connected to the supply in a way that allows it to be moved. Typical examples include computers, monitors, kettles, printers, extension leads, power tools, phone chargers and cleaning equipment.

An EICR is an Electrical Installation Condition Report. It assesses the fixed parts of a building's electrical system, such as consumer units, circuits, cabling, sockets, switches, light fittings and earthing arrangements. It is not a test of the appliances plugged into those sockets.

A useful way to remember it is this: PAT testing follows the equipment; an EICR follows the building's wiring. A passing PAT label on a photocopier does not confirm that the socket outlet or circuit is safe. Equally, a satisfactory EICR does not confirm that a portable heater, extension lead or laptop charger is in good condition.

What PAT testing checks

A proper PAT programme starts with a visual inspection. This catches many of the faults that matter most in day-to-day use: cracked plugs, damaged cables, loose connections, signs of overheating, unsuitable extension leads and equipment used in the wrong environment.

Where appropriate, the appliance is then tested with specialist equipment. Depending on the appliance type, this may include checks for earth continuity, insulation resistance and lead polarity. Not every item needs every electrical test. For example, a double-insulated appliance is checked differently from an item with an earth connection.

The result is normally recorded as a pass or fail, with a label placed on the item where practical. The label is helpful for staff and auditors, but the supporting report is the more valuable record. It should identify each appliance, its location or department, the result and any faults found.

For a busy office, PAT testing may cover desktop equipment, kitchen appliances and extension leads. In a workshop, the focus may include portable tools, chargers and equipment exposed to heavier use. A care setting may have more equipment used near residents or visitors. The right approach reflects the equipment, its environment and how often it is handled.

What an EICR checks

An EICR is a more involved inspection of the electrical installation. The electrician examines visible parts of the installation and carries out testing to assess whether the system remains safe for continued use. This can involve checking protective devices, earthing and bonding, circuit condition, socket outlets, signs of damage or overheating, and whether previous alterations have been completed safely.

The report identifies observations using coded classifications. Some findings may require urgent action, while others may be recommendations or improvements to consider. If an EICR is marked as unsatisfactory, the report should make clear what needs attention before the installation can be considered satisfactory.

Because circuits may need to be isolated or tested, an EICR can cause more disruption than PAT testing. Good planning matters. Arranging the work outside normal hours, where possible, can reduce the effect on staff, customers, tenants or service users.

Do you legally need PAT testing or an EICR?

There is no single legal rule stating that every workplace appliance must be PAT tested annually. However, employers, duty holders and landlords have legal responsibilities to maintain electrical systems and equipment so they do not create danger. PAT testing is a widely used, practical way to support that responsibility and demonstrate that portable appliances are being managed sensibly.

The testing frequency should be based on risk, not simply on a date printed on a label. A rarely moved monitor in a low-risk office may need a different inspection schedule from a frequently used drill on a construction site or a communal kettle in a busy hall. Visual checks by users and staff also play a part between formal tests.

EICR requirements also depend on the type of premises and the person responsible. For rented homes in England, electrical installations must generally be inspected and tested at least every five years, or sooner if the report recommends it. Commercial premises do not all have one fixed legal interval, but regular inspection is expected as part of meeting electrical safety duties. A five-year interval is common in many commercial environments, though the correct period may be shorter or longer depending on the installation, use and previous report.

The key point is that neither service should be treated as a box-ticking exercise. A suitable programme is based on the risks in your premises, clear records and prompt action when faults are found.

When you need PAT testing, an EICR, or both

If your concern is portable equipment brought in by staff, used by visitors or moved between rooms, PAT testing is likely to be the immediate priority. This is particularly relevant where appliances receive regular handling, have long flexible leads or operate in demanding settings such as kitchens, workshops, schools and community venues.

If you have concerns about tripping circuits, warm sockets, damaged fixed wiring, flickering lights, recent building work or an old consumer unit, an EICR is the more relevant service. It looks beyond the appliance to the condition of the installation itself.

Most organisations benefit from both on separate schedules. An office may arrange periodic EICRs for the fixed installation while maintaining a risk-based PAT testing programme for appliances and leads. A landlord with a managed property may need an EICR for the dwelling while also choosing to test supplied portable appliances, particularly in communal or furnished areas.

There are exceptions. A business with almost no portable electrical equipment may only need limited appliance checks, while a tenant in a modern serviced office may not be responsible for the building's installation. Always clarify who is responsible for the fixed wiring before arranging an EICR. It may be the landlord, managing agent or building operator rather than the occupier.

Records matter as much as the test

A certificate is useful only if it can be found when it is needed. Keep PAT reports, EICRs, remedial work records and appliance registers together, whether digitally or in a clearly organised compliance file. This makes life easier during an insurance query, internal audit, landlord discussion or health and safety review.

For PAT testing, your records should make it easy to see what was tested, where it was located, what failed and whether the item was removed from use or repaired. A failed appliance should not simply be left plugged in with a label attached. It needs to be taken out of service until it is repaired, retested or replaced.

For an EICR, retain the full report and evidence that any observations requiring action were dealt with. If remedial work is completed, keep the relevant certification with the original report. This creates a clear trail showing that you identified the issue and responded appropriately.

How to make electrical compliance less disruptive

Before PAT testing, ask staff not to hide equipment in drawers, cupboards or under desks. A simple request for personal chargers, fans and other privately owned items to be made available can prevent gaps in the register. It is also worth identifying equipment that must remain powered, such as servers, clinical equipment or security systems, so it can be planned around carefully.

For either service, choose a qualified provider who can explain the findings in plain English. You should know what has been tested, what the results mean and what action, if any, you need to take. Clear reporting is especially helpful where several people share responsibility for premises, from office managers and trustees to landlords and facilities teams.

Local organisations in Basingstoke, Reading, Fleet and surrounding areas can also benefit from flexible appointments that minimise downtime. Pax Animi PAT Testing provides practical, jargon-free PAT reports, appliance labelling and renewal reminders so the appliance side of electrical compliance is easier to manage.

The right question is not whether PAT testing is better than an EICR. It is whether your portable equipment and your fixed installation are each being checked at the right time, by the right person, with records that leave you confident about what happens next.