The Fire Marshal Wants a PAT Certificate, Not a 'Looks Fine to Me' Visual Check
"It's just a kettle, what could go wrong?" is the philosophy that leads to an electrical fire and a voided insurance policy. In a commercial environment, every device with a plug is a potential liability. Whether it’s a laptop charger in an office or a heavy-duty grinder on a construction site, the "Pass" sticker on the cable isn't just decoration—it's a legal shield. But the sticker falls off, the ink fades, and the "Asset ID" becomes unreadable over time.
When the health and safety auditor walks through your door, they don't want to see stickers. They want to see the digital ledger that proves every "Date Tested" and every "Result" for every piece of equipment in the building.
Class 1 vs. Class 2: The Logic of the Test
The "Type" field in this template isn't just a label; it determines the electrical testing protocol. A "Class 1" appliance relies on basic insulation and an earth connection (the green/yellow wire). A "Class 2" appliance is double-insulated and has no earth. If a "Tester" treats a Class 1 item like a Class 2, they might miss a catastrophic earth-continuity failure that could turn the metal casing of a machine into a live conductor.
The template also separates "Cord" and "Ext Lead" (Extension Lead) from "IT Equipment." This matters because an extension lead is often the weakest link in the chain—subjected to physical abuse, overloading, and daisy-chaining. By logging these as distinct types, a PAT tester can filter the database to identify high-risk assets that need more frequent inspection intervals than a stationary desktop PC.
The Repair Trail: Beyond the Pass/Fail
A standard PAT tester often just records a binary result. This Memento template goes deeper with the "Repair" field. Did the item "Fail" because of a damaged cable? If so, was it "Replaced Plug" or "Replaced Fuse"?
This creates a maintenance history for every "Asset ID." If a specific industrial vacuum cleaner has had its fuse replaced three times in six months, the "Comments" field will reflect a pattern of misuse or an internal motor fault that a simple "Pass" would have ignored. By tracking the repairs alongside the test "Result," you move from reactive testing to proactive asset management. You see the "Photo" of the frayed cord before the repair, and the photo of the new, correctly wired plug after.
Location Tracking and Accountability
The "Location" field is the most undervalued part of the PAT process. In a facility with 500 assets, knowing that Asset ID 1042 is in "Warehouse - Bay 4" saves hours of searching during the next testing cycle. It ensures that no device is "missed" because it was tucked under a desk or moved to a different department.
The "Tester" field provides the final layer of accountability. When an incident occurs, the "Date Tested" and the name of the "Tester" are the two pieces of data that the insurance company will demand first. This database ensures that those facts are locked to the "Item Description" and the "Photo" of the asset, providing a complete, unalterable audit trail of electrical safety compliance.