There is no CQC rule that says every appliance in your home must be PAT tested every 12 months. What inspectors look for is evidence that you have identified the electrical risks in your service and are managing them properly. That distinction matters, because homes with a fresh set of test labels on every kettle still get challenged if they cannot produce a coherent record of what was checked, when, and what happened to anything that failed.
The regulations sitting behind the question
Regulation 15 of the Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 covers premises and equipment. CQC's guidance on Regulation 15 expects regular health and safety risk assessments of the premises and equipment, findings acted on without delay, and suitable arrangements for the purchase, service, maintenance, renewal and replacement of equipment in line with current legislation, guidance and manufacturers' instructions. Under the single assessment framework this evidence feeds the "safe environments" quality statement within the safe key question, and poor record keeping will also be picked up under Regulation 17 on good governance.
Separately, and regardless of CQC, you have duties under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. Regulation 4(2) requires electrical systems to be maintained, so far as is reasonably practicable, to prevent danger. The HSE has never set a national testing interval. Its guidance in HSG107 and INDG236 points to a risk-based maintenance regime instead.
Records, not labels
The single most useful thing you can hand an inspector is a complete asset register: every item, its location, its class, the date of the last inspection and test, the results, who carried out the work, and the outcome for anything that failed. A label on an appliance proves nothing on its own if the underlying record does not exist.
The gaps we see most often in Derbyshire and South Yorkshire homes are predictable. Kitchen and laundry equipment is logged, but the maintenance workshop tools, staff room appliances, hairdressing equipment and Christmas lights are not. Extension leads and multi-way adaptors get missed. Items bought since the last visit never make it onto the register, so an inspector finds a six month old microwave with no history at all.
Intervals need a reason written down
The IET Code of Practice for In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, now in its 5th edition, sets out the factors for deciding intervals: the environment, the users, the equipment construction (Class I equipment relies on the earth connection, Class II does not), the equipment type, and how often it is used. A care home contains several very different environments, so a single blanket interval rarely reflects the actual risk.
Laundry equipment, kitchen appliances, cleaning machines with trailing leads and hand-held items used by residents with limited dexterity justify shorter intervals. A Class II desk lamp in the manager's office does not need the same attention. A defensible position is usually a documented set of intervals by category, with staff formal visual inspections between engineer visits. What does not survive scrutiny is "annual, everything" with no reasoning recorded anywhere. Our care home PAT testing reports set out the interval logic alongside the results so you have something to point at.
Residents' own appliances
This is where homes are caught most often. Families bring in radios, TVs, lamps, phone chargers, fan heaters, electric blankets and mobility scooter chargers. Inspectors will ask how you know the lamp in room 14 is safe. You need a written policy covering what is permitted, a check on arrival, an entry on the register, and a review point. Older electric blankets and second hand fan heaters deserve particular attention, and your fire risk assessment should align with whatever the policy says.
What PAT testing does not cover
Do not let a PAT report be presented as proof of all electrical safety. Hoists and other equipment used to lift people fall under LOLER 1998 and need thorough examination at least every six months. The fixed wiring needs periodic inspection and testing to BS 7671, recorded on an EICR. Medical devices need servicing and calibration by a manufacturer-accredited engineer. Profiling beds, nurse call and fire detection all have their own regimes. An inspector who spots that gap will start asking about your wider maintenance planning.
Failures matter more than passes
Inspectors are as interested in what failed as what passed. A report showing zero failures across 300 items sometimes prompts more questions than one showing six failures with a clear note that each item was removed from use, tagged, and then repaired or replaced. Keep that closing loop visible.
Staff checks between visits
HSE is explicit that user checks and formal visual inspections do not require an electrician. Care staff spotting a cracked plug, a scorched socket or a taped-up lead is worth more than any annual certificate. Brief training, a simple form and a line in the induction pack gives you evidence of an ongoing regime rather than a once-a-year event.
Getting it done without disrupting the home
Testing in an occupied care home is a different job to testing an office. We work room by room, avoid disturbing residents at mealtimes and rest periods, and can split larger homes across visits. Testing is priced by visit length, with half days from £125 and full days from £250. Our Chesterfield base covers north Derbyshire, the Peak District and South Yorkshire, and you can see how we approach PAT testing generally if you also run supported living or day services.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does CQC require annual PAT testing in care homes?
No. There is no CQC rule that every appliance must be PAT tested every 12 months. Regulation 15 expects regular health and safety risk assessments of premises and equipment, with findings acted on promptly and suitable arrangements for servicing, maintenance and replacement. Inspectors want evidence that you have identified and are managing the electrical risks, not a set of labels on the kettles.
How often should care home appliances be inspected and tested?
There is no legally fixed interval. The IET Code of Practice sets out the factors for deciding one: the environment, the users, the equipment construction and type, and how often it is used. In practice a care home needs documented intervals by category, so laundry, kitchen, cleaning machines and hand-held items used by residents get checked more frequently than a Class II desk lamp in the office, with staff visual inspections in between.
What about residents' own electrical appliances brought in by families?
This is the area homes are caught out on most often. You need a written policy covering what is permitted, a check when the item arrives, an entry on the asset register and a review point, so you can answer if an inspector asks how you know the lamp in room 14 is safe. Older electric blankets and second hand fan heaters deserve particular attention, and your fire risk assessment should match whatever the policy says.
What electrical safety checks does PAT testing not cover?
A PAT report only covers portable and transportable appliances. Hoists and other equipment used to lift people fall under LOLER 1998 and need thorough examination at least every six months, the fixed wiring needs periodic inspection and testing to BS 7671 recorded on an EICR, and medical devices need servicing and calibration by a manufacturer-accredited engineer. Profiling beds, nurse call and fire detection all have separate regimes.
Do care staff need to be electricians to carry out visual checks?
No. HSE is explicit that user checks and formal visual inspections do not require an electrician. Care staff spotting a cracked plug, a scorched socket or a taped-up lead between engineer visits is genuinely valuable evidence, provided you back it up with brief training, a simple recording form and a line in the induction pack.