Whether it’s an al fresco meal or a drink in an atmospheric beer garden, there’s nothing quite like spending time outdoors with friends and family.
But if you own a venue with an outside space, as we move through spring towards summer you have a duty of care to your customers and staff to ensure that your electrical installations have been fully tested in readiness.
The Health & Safety Executive is urging that this testing be carried out by a competent person to ensure that all the boxes are ticked. They also stress that any installation work and/or repairs that arise from the safety testing also be carried out by a qualified electrician.
When it comes to lighting, you should only use lights that are specifically designed to be used outside, and the same goes for heaters. Your existing electrical installation should be sufficient to accommodate any additional load that you’re planning, and your outside sockets should be fit for purpose and must never be overloaded. If there’s a risk of this, arrange for additional sockets to be installed. In addition, any socket used for electrical equipment must be protected by a Residual Current Device (RCD), as this will minimise the chances of an electric shock and/or fire.
If your lighting has been left in situ over the winter, it’s important to look for any signs of damage as wear and tear can present the risk of malfunction and injury to your staff and customers. Lights and heaters may also have been in storage, so it’s advisable to give them a visual inspection before reinstating them in your outside space. And consider the positioning of your lighting and heaters – it’s always best to keep them away from flammable materials and decorations.
While these basic rules are easy to follow, your fixed installation and electrical appliances should be inspected, tested and maintained in accordance with the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. PAT testing applies to portable appliances, while the checking any permanent fixed installation of equipment that’s not connected to a visible socket, along with the installation of the sockets themselves falls, within the remit of fixed wire testing.
As an electrical safety testing specialist, Mark Smith, owner of MS Electrical, is passionate about keeping commercial premises as safe as they can be. ‘We all love heading to a pub or restaurant on a summer evening to enjoy a drink and meal on the terrace or in the garden,’ comments Mark. ‘While our focus is on enjoying ourselves, it’s important also to know that the proprietor has taken all the necessary steps to ensure that we can do so in safety. Testing the fixed wire installations and PAT testing every appliance on a regular basis are part and parcel of being a responsible landlord or restaurateur. We’d urge anyone with a venue who’s concerned about their electrical safety to contact us for advice.’
At MS Electrical we offer PAT testing and fixed wire testing in Cambridge. Please call us on 01223 850301 or complete our enquiry form to request a no-obligation quotation.