PAT Testing is Now EET Testing: What Changed and What it Means for You
If you have heard the term EET testing and wondered whether it is something new you need to worry about, here is the short answer: EET testing is the new name for PAT testing. The work is essentially the same, but the terminology and some of the guidance have been updated. Here is what businesses and landlords in Surrey need to know in 2026.
Why the name changed
Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) has been the common term for decades. Under the latest IET Code of Practice for the In-service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment, the terminology has shifted to EET, or Electrical Equipment Testing. The reason is that the old name was misleading: the process was never limited to small portable appliances. It covers a wide range of electrical equipment, including items that are not portable in any everyday sense, such as fixed and stationary equipment. The new name reflects the actual scope of the work more accurately.
Is the testing itself different?
The core principles are unchanged. Equipment is still visually inspected and, where appropriate, electrically tested to confirm it is safe for continued use. What has been refined is the guidance around risk-based testing frequencies, record keeping, and significantly the treatment of modern equipment types that have become safety concerns.
The lithium-ion battery update
One of the most important recent additions to the guidance concerns lithium-ion battery equipment. Following a series of high-profile fires involving e-bikes, e-scooters and large power-tool battery packs, the updated guidance gives specific attention to how this equipment is inspected and managed. For any business or landlord whose premises contain battery-powered equipment or charging facilities, this is an area of growing scrutiny - and growing insurance interest.
What this means for businesses
For businesses, the duty has not changed: under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and related health and safety law, employers must ensure electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition. EET testing remains the recognised method of demonstrating that duty has been met. What has changed is that insurers and auditors increasingly expect to see current, well-documented testing records - and increasingly ask about battery equipment specifically.
What this means for landlords
The landlord picture in 2026 is genuinely confusing, so it is worth being clear. For private landlords, the named five-year legal duty concerns the fixed electrical installation - the EICR (What is an EICR?). Separately, government guidance says any appliances a landlord supplies must be kept safe, and EET (PAT) testing is the recognised way to show that. For social landlords, the rules have tightened further: from November 2025 for new tenancies and May 2026 for existing tenancies, in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment is now an explicit requirement. If you are a landlord and unsure which duties apply to you, we can advise.
EET testing across Surrey and West Sussex
Whether you call it PAT or EET, MS Electrical Solutions provides electrical equipment testing for businesses, commercial landlords and furnished rental properties across Horley, Crawley, Redhill, Reigate and the surrounding area, with a full test register and certification provided. Call Mark on 07508 224603 or contact us online.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is EET testing the same as PAT testing?
Yes. EET (Electrical Equipment Testing) is the updated name for PAT (Portable Appliance Testing) under the latest IET Code of Practice. The testing process is essentially the same; the name was changed because the work covers more than just small portable appliances.
Why was PAT testing renamed?
The term Portable Appliance Testing was misleading because the process always covered a wider range of equipment than small portable appliances, including fixed and stationary equipment. The new name, Electrical Equipment Testing, reflects the actual scope more accurately.
Do landlords have to do PAT or EET testing?
For private landlords, the named five-year legal duty is the EICR on the fixed installation, but government guidance requires any landlord-supplied appliances to be kept safe, and EET testing is the recognised method. For social landlords, in-service testing of electrical equipment became an explicit requirement from November 2025 for new tenancies and May 2026 for existing tenancies.
Does EET testing cover e-bike and e-scooter batteries?
The updated guidance gives specific attention to lithium-ion battery equipment following a number of serious fires. Businesses and landlords with battery-powered equipment or charging facilities on their premises face growing scrutiny, and we can advise on managing this equipment safely.
