Business premises · Bristol & surrounding areas
Portable appliance testing for offices, shops and other business premises. Plan checks around the equipment you use, when it can be unplugged and the records your team needs. An approximate item count and premises postcode are enough to start a quote.
Speak directly with Max about the premises, access and work you need.
Choose your starting point
Choose the closest option. You can add the details of your premises and any different requirements before sending your enquiry.
Your next step
Include monitors, power supplies, printers and shared appliances. Mention occupied desks and equipment that cannot be unplugged without notice.
Get a commercial PAT quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Your next step
Tell Max what equipment is used, when customers are present and whether appliances can be made available together.
Get a commercial PAT quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Your next step
An approximate count by room helps plan access. Include stored equipment and items used by cleaners or other teams if they are part of your scope.
Get a commercial PAT quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Your next step
Tell us what you need in your own words. You do not need to know the technical name or have a finished plan. Max can discuss the right next step for your property.
Get a PAT testing quoteYou can add more details before sending your request.Define the work
The number of items matters, but so does where they are, who uses them and when they can be disconnected.
Start with the desks and shared areas included in the visit. List the types of equipment rather than counting only the sockets on the wall. Flag powered equipment that supports ongoing work, so staff can save files and arrange access to plugs before the agreed checks begin.
Shared kettles, microwaves and cleaning equipment are easy to miss when counting office desks. Tell Max which rooms and storage cupboards hold appliances, and who can unlock them. Include equipment used outside normal office hours if it belongs in the agreed inventory rather than assuming somebody else has arranged its checks.
Agree the records you need and how items will be identified before attendance. An asset number or room name can make a finding easier to locate later. If a concern is found, discuss what happens to that item and who will take responsibility for arranging any repair or replacement.
Keep the premises in mind
A short conversation with the people using the appliances can make the visit much easier to organise.
Explain your opening hours and which teams share the building. Some equipment may be available while people continue working elsewhere; other items need an agreed pause. Ask about suitable attendance rather than assuming every appliance can be unplugged at any point during a normal business day.
A printer, coffee machine or cleaning appliance may be leased or supplied by another company. Identify the responsible person and any service arrangement before adding it to the work. In shared premises, confirm which appliances belong to your business and which are managed by the building owner or another tenant.
There is no universal legal requirement for every appliance to receive an annual PAT. Inspection and testing arrangements should reflect the equipment, use, environment and previous findings. Bring any existing inventory or maintenance records so the discussion starts with your workplace rather than a standard anniversary on a sticker.
From first contact to agreed work
You can enquire before every detail is settled. The work, access and price are agreed before booking.
Send an approximate item count, equipment types and the postcode. Add opening hours and any particular records requested by your facilities contact, landlord or insurer.
Max can discuss what is included, equipment availability and the basis of the price. Nominate someone who can provide room access and answer appliance ownership questions.
Keep the agreed records with your equipment information. Assign any follow-up actions to a named person, including decisions about affected appliances and future maintenance arrangements.
Prepare for a useful quote
Use this checklist if you have the information to hand. You can still enquire if you do not have drawings or previous electrical records.
Read the preparation guideAttach plans or reports to your prepared email. Leave electrical covers in place when taking photographs.
Practical answers
No. PAT concerns electrical appliances and equipment; an EICR assesses the fixed electrical installation. A business may need to consider both, but the scope and access arrangements are different. If your request mentions fixed wire testing, distribution boards or building circuits, tell Max so you start with the appropriate inspection.
Ask Max about thisA blanket annual test is not a legal requirement for every appliance. The appropriate checks and intervals depend on the equipment and how it is used. A quiet office has different conditions from equipment that is frequently moved or exposed to damage. Existing findings and your risk assessment inform that decision.
Ask Max about thisItems being checked need to be available and may need to be disconnected. Agree an order with staff and your IT contact so work can be saved and plugs reached. Flag servers, shared systems and equipment that cannot be unplugged without a planned shutdown.
Ask Max about thisAn estimate is enough to begin. Count equipment by room or workstation and mention shared areas, cupboards and appliances kept for occasional use. Max can clarify how the inventory affects the scope and price before you agree attendance. Say if the total is uncertain rather than leaving those areas out.
Ask Max about thisStop it being used and follow your workplace procedure for reporting and setting it aside. Do not wait for the scheduled visit if there is an immediate concern. Describe the damage when you contact Max. Repairs and any subsequent checks should be discussed separately from the original appliance testing list.
Ask Max about thisAn approximate item count is a starting point. Equipment types, locations, access, shutdown restrictions and the records you need also affect the visit. Include shared kitchens, cleaning cupboards and stored items in your brief, and ask whether minimum attendance charges or additional work are separate.
Ask Max about thisIdentify who owns or supplies each group of items and who manages its maintenance. Agree the inspection scope with the responsible people rather than assuming everything in the building is covered elsewhere. Mention hired, leased and staff-owned equipment when requesting the quote so boundaries are clear.
Ask Max about thisFor the safety and maintenance principles behind this advice, read:
Talk to Max
Tell Max what you need, where the premises are and any date you are working towards.