Test & Tag

Test & Tagging

Electrocution or arc flashes can cause fatal consequences. Safeguard your staff with regular appliance testing

Testing & Tagging Electrical Appliances

Electrocution or arc flashes can cause fatal consequences when working near electricity or using electrical appliances.

Safeguard your staff with regular appliance testing from Christchurch Electrical.

Test & Tag Service

External Inspection of equipment

Checking for damage, defects, wear or modifications to the equipment.
Checking the plugs / connectors for discolouration and wear; a possible sign of excessive heat, loose electrical connection, chemical or moisture exposure.

Protective Earth Continuity Test

Ensuring the resistance is sufficiently low to ensure correct operation of the equipment.

Insulation Test

Testing the leakage current insulation resistance of the device

Polarity

Ensuring correct wiring has been completed for the particular equipment; it is not uncommon to see the neutral and live conductors reversed.

Do I Need To Test and Tag My Commercial Appliances?

It is a legal requirement to ensure electrical equipment is electrically safe and maintained in a safe condition (this includes all NEW appliances when first introduced into service unless

supplied through an electrically safe RCD, or portable residual current device (PRCD)

which itself has a current tag - refer to AS/NZS3760, exclusion only applies whilst device is new).

Regulation 26 of Electrical (Safety) Regulations 2010 (ESR) (26) only states one simple way to verify the safety of appliances that owners make available to their employees, contractors or are hired out, is to have the appliances tested and tagged in accordance with standard AS/NZS 3760.

What Type Of Equipment Should Be Tested & Tagged?

All electrical equipment that is plugged into a low voltage power supply (including single and three phase appliances and leads) should be tested and tagged:

For example:

Portable outlet devices or power boards
3 phase machines on factory floors not permanently wired
Portable transformers & RCD power boards
Battery chargers
Portably heavy-duty hand tools
Flexible cords (the interval of inspection and testing is dependent upon the environment the cord is in, e.g., low or high risk of damage)
Basically, anything that can be and or is plugged into a power supply

This also includes:

Any plugged appliance, single and three phase, where the flexible supply leads are flexed during normal use, open to abuse or in a hostile environment
Fixed RCDs in a switchboard

What Electrical Equipment Don't We Test?

Equipment that is fixed or wired directly into the wall does not normally constitute a hazard sufficient to warrant routine in service electrical safety testing. Where the flexible cable or flexible cord is flexed on equipment, which is moved only for restocking, maintenance or cleaning, e.g., in service testing is required. For such fixed equipment or stationary equipment it is sufficient, for the purposes of AS/NZS 3760, to do a visual inspection and earth test only since insulation testing requires disconnection
Equipment that would require dismantling to be tested or locked/fixed storage
Server rooms or server equipment in cabinets (whilst in use). This can be scheduled requiring the computer system to be switched off
LAN cabling or fixed mains outlets
Builder’s boxes (hardwired sub main) - these can be tested by a qualified electrician if required
Electrical appliances at height - AS/NZS 3760 does not apply to electrical equipment (such as suspended light fittings), installed at a height of 2.5 m or greater above the ground, floor or platform, where there is not a reasonable chance of a person touching the equipment and, at the same time, coming into contact with earth or any conducting medium which may be in electrical contact with earth or through which a circuit may be completed to earth

How Often Should Appliances Be Tested and Tagged?

Why, Where, When, How, What, Who Diagram

The frequency to test and tag an appliance is primarily determined by the nature of the equipment and the environment that the appliance is in.

In contrast to an office computer, electrical equipment used on construction sites (outdoors in damp or hostile environments) would need to be tested more often.

The AS/NZS 3760 standard (table 2.4 pictured below) is a minimum test and tag frequency. Individual workplaces may have different test and tag frequency rates based upon their unique risk management and health & safety planning.

Standard recommended frequencies are as follows for the most common environments:

• 3 months: Construction, Demolition and Mining sites (as required by AS/NZS 3012:2010) and tools in site vehicles (as this is considered a harsh environment and therefore appliances are more likely to be damaged and subject to abuse than in other settings)

• 6 months: Production, Warehouses, and Factories - These types of environments are considered harsh. Appliances used in these sites are normally operated on a continuously basis

• 12 months: Electrical appliances and equipment located in office areas, staff rooms and kitchens or anywhere considered a normal working environment are still subject to abuse due to everyday use and unseen damage. Trapping and continued flexing of equipment/supply cords and extensions are a common cause of abuse and electrical hazards. These areas are also regarded as hostile environment. Dust, general deterioration of old appliances and sun damage to plastic cases are important to check and take into consideration while in use

• 5 yearly: where the environment can be described as non-hostile (where the equipment/supply cord is not prone to flexing or open to abuse) – e.g. computer monitors, server rooms/cabinets, power boards attached under desks or in-desk electrical lead baskets and computer monitors not subject to damage or abuse. However, the leads supplying these appliances may be annually tested if in contrast, they are not secured and away from flexing or abuse (e.g., leads kicked under desks in power boards)

Who Can Carry Out Electrical Test and Tagging?

To complete the task correctly, a trained/experienced test and tag technician or electrician is required. The individual performing the work must have the necessary knowledge and skills (as listed in AS/NZS 3760) and be able to understand the Standards involved.

A registered electrician or electrical service technician will be required to remedy any failures requiring electrical repair that the testing reveals.

Power for the PAT (Portable Appliance Tester) machine is required including for off-site testing (e.g., when your tester comes to a job site to test hand tools) to enable leakage current testing (run test) and this should be supplied by mains power, not from a generator.

How Can I Check the Electrical Safety Of My Appliances?

Regularly, visually check cords, plugs and tools to see if they are damaged. Encourage staff to report and check faulty damaged equipment and to check dates on existing tags.

Remember that in certain circumstances, electrical equipment requires an RCD (Residual Current Devices), for outside or in damp areas. Maybe Image

If you find any items considered dangerous or damaged, remove the appliance from service and contact Christchurch Electrical to arrange one of our qualified Electrician’s to remedy the issue.

Test & Tag Colours

There are two key environments that determine the colour of your electrical appliance test tag:

• Construction, Demolition or Mining: for these environments, specified test tag colours are required

• Other industries: no specified colours required – you can decide your own colour coding

AS/NZS 3012 recommends all construction, mining and demolition equipment to be tested every 3 months and tagged using a time-specific colour

Time Specific Electrical Testing Coloured Tags

Our Test & Tag Services

Pre-site assessment and advice recommending savings and explanation of the testing process
Conduct visual checks of electrical appliances and leads for defects or possible damage
Electrical testing performed with a PAT (Portable Appliance Tester) including:
Single phase testing
Three phase testing
RCD testing
Tagging of appliances and leads with due dates (including the use of plastic tag covers for tough environments)
Identify failed items and make safe
Comprehensive report provided including all items tested and their pass/fail status, recommendations for safety improvements, cost saving recommendations including how to reduce tagging intervals in office environments and recommendations for replacement of older equipment
Testing data retained for 7 years (as legally required)
Lead repair & replacement
Repairs of failed appliances (basic repairs maybe completed on site, substantial repairs may need to be separately reviewed or quoted)
Retest due reminders

Top Tips To Increase Safety & Reduce Tagging Costs

Taking a few simple steps can reduce the time taken to carry out test and tagging, allow for your tagging frequency to be extended in some circumstances, as well as reduce the risk of electrical fire.

Ensure regular cleaning under desk areas. Remove any dust build ups including on power boards
Keep leads tidy, out of the way of traffic areas, and untangled
Do not use travel adapters for permanent use
Fit power boards under desk where possible
Do not use home grade extension leads in a commercial setting – use leads fit for purpose
Do not crush leads or plugs (E.g., pushing appliances such as fridges against plugs)
Ensure leads for tagging are accessible without obstruction

Test and Tag Intervals – AS/NZS 3760 – Table 2.4

In accordance with the standard ASNZS 3760 that regulates the industry in New Zealand, the intervals below are recommendations. They should be considered as minimum requirements for PAT tests.

Table 2.4 Indicative Testing & Inspection Intervals for Electrical Equipment

Ensure A Safe Workplace – Schedule Electrical Testing

Electrical appliances will be reviewed by experienced technicians to ensure they are safe to use at time of testing. They have the skills, experience, and equipment to carry out testing in accordance with the AS/NZS 3760 standard and conduct necessary repairs. Appliances are visually inspected for defects such as damage or missing components, as well as electrically tested for earth continuity, insulation resistance, and polarity.

To book a test and tag appointment for your workplace electrical appliances, call Christchurch Electrical on 03 366 1718.

At Christchurch Electrical, we can provide all your test & tagging electrical services

Looking for a quality & specialised electrical service company for testing & tagging electrical appliances in Christchurch or the wider Canterbury region? Call us on (03) 366 1718.

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