Portable Appliance Testing Service

The Consortium offers a Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) service which is available to all members at a significantly discounted rate. The Consortium now has four testing machines plus microwave testers, which are used by a team of qualified volunteers to carry out the required testing of portable appliances in those halls that have requested it.

Who can use the service? The Scheme is arranged for the benefit of paid-up members of the Consortium. Unfortunately, due to insurance compliance, only members of the Consortium can use this service. However, we have now aligned the membership fee and the PAT fee so that the overall cost to Join the consortium and use the PAT service is the same as it would have been for a none member to use the PAT service, So to use the PAT service your organisation can now join the Consortium and, not only use the PAT service, but also enjoy the other benefits, all at no extra cost. The only Caveat is that you must still be a charitable or community-based not-for-profit organisation.

How do we register to join the service? If your hall or community building wishes to join this scheme, you should contact our Testing Co-ordinator, Austin, with “PAT Testing Request” in the subject line of the email.  WNCBC will then contact you to let you know when the next testing period starts and answer any queries you might have.

When will our appliances be tested? Community Buildings have been grouped together geographically and each group is linked to one or two volunteer testers to reduce travel time and costs.  The volunteers will arrange to carry out testing for all buildings in that group within a specific time frame (usually one or two months).

How much does the service cost? The charges to WNCBC members for testing up to 50 appliances will be £32 (which is payable in addition to your annual WNCBC membership fee) and 50p for each appliance in excess of 50.

How is the service managed? There is a Testing Co-ordinator, Austin Iliffe, who can be contacted by email via austin_iliffe@btinternet.com  Austin currently organises the volunteers and schedules all testing. The Consortium has a comprehensive insurance policy for the scheme and its volunteer testers, which covers Public Liability and Professional Indemnity.