Feature Test & Measurement


To maintain electrical safety in the workplace, PAT data management programs have become more important, as Jim Wallace of Seaward Electronic explains


ll PAT contractors are being forced to work more efficiently due to a competitive portable appliance testing market.


testing’ that can be displayed in workplaces to highlight the electrical safety measures undertaken.


Therefore, linking the test functions of the tester to effective results man- agement programs has taken on increased significance. Advances in PAT instrumentation and


test data management software means that there are now integrated PAT solu- tions available that meet the needs of all levels of electrical safety testing. 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. Programs used for asset management purposes in this way can search through records easily and display the record details faster than making changes to a manual system - with the reduced chances of mistakes. Another advantage is the ease with


which re-test schedules can be planned. As the re-test periods for individual items can be anything from three months to four years, then it is compara- tively easy for test situations and work schedules to become unmanageable. It becomes particularly unwieldy to have someone monitoring a paper record system, looking for items which may have remained in use beyond their next test date, particularly when some large workplaces or testing contracts can include thousands of appliances. Now a range of results recording pro-


grams are available with different fea- tures and varying levels of sophistication to meet the needs of all types of PAT test- ing organisations and personnel.


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 pro- grams at this level permit manual entry of results. With these systems, once test results have 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. Once testing has been undertaken


and all data entered, it is also possi- ble to produce special ‘certificates of


6


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. Of course one of the most important


Right: there are now integrated PAT solutions available that meet the needs of all levels of electrical safety testing


Work smarter with record programs A


considerations for users of PAT testers incorporating an internal memory is the compatibility between the test instru- ment and the PC program. Most soft- ware 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 pre- ferred 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 pro- vide the same range of test report options and administrative functions as those described earlier. In addition, some of these elementary


Below: at all levels PAT record keeping programs provide real practical benefits to contractors


ing this information into the tester, re- testing in the field can be speeded up considerably and detailed test histo- ries can be maintained very easily. As a result, software programs that


combine data upload and download fea- tures can be used to create fairly sophis- ticated asset registers for customers, grouping appliances by type or location and helping to track the movement of equipment between departments or dif- ferent parts of a building. Such high level programs also come


with a host of other functions and test templates, including the inclusion of ‘view only’ CD files that enable others to have copies of test records from a parent program that can be viewed without having a copy of the original record keeping program software. For contractors carrying out PAT test-


ing as part of more general facilities management functions, software pro- grams are available that have the ability to include reports and details of other health and safety related checks on equipment such as emergency lighting, fire alarms and fire extinguishers. Networking options have also been


level programs allow different reporting options including the presentation of test histories for individual appliances for comparison or trend analysis purposes.


Uploading test data As PAT testers have become more sophisticated, some have gained the ability to pre-program the instrument with a special test code (a test routine defined by a numeric sequence) at the start of the working day. This is referred to as an upload


capability and involves the ability to send an appliance number and test code from PAT records held on a PC program to the instrument. By upload-


developed for these higher level PAT programs - enabling more than one user to access the program at the same time. With developments such as these, PAT


results recording and data management solutions are available for all organisa- tions involved in portable appliance test- ing whatever their requirements. At all levels PAT record keeping pro-


grams provide real practical benefits to contractors - reducing costs, increasing revenue and productivity, improving safety and providing a truly profes- sional approach to test data manage- ment that can only help in the long term development of their business.


Seaward Electronic www.seaward.co.uk T: 0191 586 3511


Enter 200 MAY 2011 Electrical Engineering


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