Tech Talk


Getting technical with Jim Wallace


Work smarter with PAT test record programs


Jim Wallace looks at developments in PAT data management programs.


In very basic terms PAT testers might be regarded simply as test data collection tools that measure and check the safety of electrical appliances. For fully effective risk management and workplace safety protocols, how this data is acquired, managed and presented takes on even greater importance. As a result, considerable work has also gone into the development of software systems capable of enabling the user to build and maintain computerised records of test results so that the collected data can be interrogated and used to control electrical safety programmes more efficiently. In addition, the HSE Memorandum of Guidance on the Electricity At Work Regulations advises that records of maintenance and test results should be kept throughout the life of the equipment. Software controlled safety testing record systems enable ‘real-time’ records to be maintained, which are easily amended and updated. This enables new equipment to be added and the movement of equipment from one location to another to be tracked and advance re-test periods to be properly managed.


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Manual data entry systems Because most entry-level PAT testers provide simple pass/fail readings and do not have an internal memory for results storage, complementary software programs at this level permit manual entry of results. However, once data has been entered there can be a range of data manipulation options available that allow different test report templates to be produced – for example, as PDF, TIF or Jpeg files.


In addition some of these basic level


programs also allow different reporting options including the presentation of test histories for individual appliances for comparison or trend analysis purposes. More elaborate entry level packages also have the ability to link testing carried out to the automatic generation of invoices – including the option to include the costs of any repairs carried out.


It is also possible to produce special ‘certificates of testing’ that can be displayed in workplaces to highlight the electrical safety measures undertaken.


Direct data download For those PAT testers equipped with a memory


to record results, basic software packages are also available that enable the direct download of test results into database systems. One of the most important considerations for users of PAT testers incorporating an internal memory is the compatibility between the test instrument and the PC program. Most software packages are compatible with different safety tester output formats – although as the range of test instruments has increased over the years it is worth checking with the supplier of your preferred results recording program that your tester will be compatible. Some of these types of programs allow both manual and direct download input of data and in broad terms provide the same range of test report options and administrative functions as those described earlier. However there are some differences that may be attractive to different types of PAT contractor or user. For example some programs enable test


results to be downloaded into existing customer or site specific files – while some download programs produce multiple databases with new results listings being created every time a new set of results is entered.


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