IET Code of Practice - 5^th Edition

What is the IET Code of Practice?

The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment is the main UK guidance document used for portable appliance testing (PAT). It sets out best practice for carrying out a combined visual inspection and (where appropriate) electrical testing, along with guidance on test methods, limits, record keeping and how to apply a risk-based approach.

For an overview of what is included (and excluded) from PAT testing, see our guide to the scope of PAT testing.

It is important to note that the Code of Practice is guidance. It is often referred to as an example of recognised good practice. Following recognised guidance will normally be enough to help demonstrate compliance with legal duties to manage electrical safety, provided it is applied sensibly and in line with risk.

The Code of Practice is updated periodically to reflect changes in equipment design, test equipment, product standards and real-world issues. The 5^th edition introduced several practical changes that help avoid unnecessarily failing equipment, and it also adds more emphasis on risk assessment and wider safety concerns such as counterfeit and substandard products.

Terminology: PAT Testing, In-Service Inspection and Testing, and EET

The terms 'PAT testing' and 'portable appliance testing' are widely used in the UK, but they are informal terms rather than the wording used by the IET Code of Practice. The Code of Practice has consistently used the term 'in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment'.

This is more accurate because the process is not limited to portable appliances, and it reflects the fact that the work involves both inspection and, where appropriate, electrical testing. In many cases, faults are identified during the visual inspection rather than by the electrical tests themselves.

There is also some incorrect information online suggesting that the IET Code of Practice has replaced PAT with the term 'EET' or 'electrical equipment testing'. This is not correct. The Code of Practice has not introduced 'EET' as a replacement term, and it does not, and never has, use either the term 'EET' or 'PAT'.

The phrase 'electrical equipment testing' is also potentially misleading because it places the emphasis on testing, when in reality the inspection is a fundamental part of the process. A more accurate description remains 'in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment', although the informal term 'PAT testing' is still widely understood and commonly used in practice.

Electrical Tests

The 5^th edition has made some changes to the guidance on the earth continuity test, the limit for the leakage test has been changed and the test procedure for equipment with a functional earth has been clarified. These changes have been introduced to avoid unnecessarily failing equipment. The good news is that if you are carrying out the testing to the guidance in the 4^th edition, you do not need to make any drastic changes, but you should be aware of the changes to avoid unnecessarily failing equipment.

New Leakage Test Limit

The most significant change is the increase in the limit of the leakage test. If you want a deeper explanation of leakage testing methods and what the readings mean in practice, see our guide to leakage current.

Although the leakage test has always been an optional test, most modern PAT instruments automatically carry out a leakage test, or substitute leakage test, as standard on all equipment. The 5^th Edition now recommends a limit of 5 mA for all equipment, both Class I and Class II.

Appliance Type	Old Limit	5th Edition Limit
Class I Handheld & Portable	0.75mA	5mA
Class I IT, Movable, Stationary & Fixed	3.5mA	5mA
Class I Heating & Cooking	0.75 mA or 0.75 mA per kW, whichever is greater, with a maximum of 5 mA	5mA
Class II All Types	0.25mA	5mA

The leakage test originates from the compliance tests carried out by the manufacturer which requires certain control conditions and test circuits in order to give accurate results. In practice, it has often been difficult to obtain results that meet the previous limits in the 4^th edition. Certain appliance types, such as washing machines and microwave ovens, can sometimes be difficult to obtain a reading below 3.5 mA, so the increase to 5 mA should make testing of this type of equipment much easier and will prevent unnecessarily failing equipment.

Most PAT test instruments will be pre-programmed with the old limits, so if the limits can not be manually changed, it will require interpretation of the test results to apply the limit of 5 mA to any equipment failing at the previous test limit.

Borderline Earth Continuity Readings

We cover the practical application of the earth continuity limits in more detail here: earth continuity test limits.

The 5^th edition also allows for some leeway for older appliances that have a slightly higher measured earth continuity resistance than (0.1 + R)Ω, up to a maximum of 0.5 Ω. A measurement slightly higher than the limit should be considered acceptable provided that the increase in resistance is due to the design of the equipment and not the deterioration of the earth connection. In practice it is difficult to know if the increased resistance is due to the design or not and the term ‘older’ is subjective. Our advice would be to apply this with some caution and note that it is only readings that are slightly above (0.1 + R)Ω where this would be applicable. Where possible, previous test results should be checked to ensure the resistance has not increased, which would indicate a deteriorating earth connection.

Clarification of Functional Earth Equipment

Certain appliances require an earth connection for functional purposes, rather than for electrical safety. This is typically the case with IT or communications equipment that needs an earth connection to meet Electro Magnetic Compatibility (EMC) requirements. Laptop power supplies and other switch-mode power supplies used on IT equipment are the most common types of equipment with a functional earth. While fault protection is provided by double or reinforced insulation, these appliances cannot be considered standard Class II appliances due to their earth connection. This was alluded to in the 4^th edition, but the 5^th edition further clarifies this with a new equipment classification: Class II FE (Functional Earth). It explicitly states that this type of equipment should be inspected and tested as Class II equipment.

IEC 62368-1, the latest harmonised product safety standard for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) and Audio/Video (AV) equipment, introduced a new symbol for this type of equipment. The symbol is a combination of the double-insulated, square-within-a-square symbol, and the existing symbol for a functional earth. The new standard is gradually being implemented and is set to replace all existing IT and audio/video standards by December 2020. Many new IT power supplies are now using the Class II FE symbol, but it's unlikely to be found on older equipment. Some older Class II FE equipment may be marked with 'ITE'.

Frequency and Appliance Types

Risk Based Frequency

The 5^th edition of the Code of Practice places a greater emphasis on risk assessment as the basis for determining the frequency of inspection and testing. We explain how to choose suitable intervals in more detail here: PAT testing frequency.

This new edition also provides sample risk assessments in an appendix, and the table suggesting initial frequencies has been completely removed. While the frequency table was a useful tool for providing some guidance on suitable test intervals, it appears that the decision to remove it was made because too many people were relying on it instead of conducting a proper risk assessment.

Appliance Types

The 5^th edition of the Code of Practice has removed the detailed descriptions of appliance types such as hand-held, portable, movable, stationary, and so on. The intention is to ensure that all equipment falls under the guidance of the Code of Practice, unless it is covered by another inspection and testing regime, such as the Electrical Installation Condition Report (EICR). This ties in with the broader scope of PAT testing, which is wider than many people assume.

ES1 / ES2 Classifications

The 5^th edition of the Code of Practice introduces new classifications, ES1 and ES2. These have been included in anticipation of the new product standard, BS EN 62368, which is set to be introduced in December 2020. BS EN 62368 covers a wide range of electronic, IT, and communication technology products. This new standard is based on Energy Source (ES) classifications, which replace the previous approach of protection based on voltages, such as extra-low voltage (ELV) and separated extra-low voltage (SELV). While there are some differences, ES1 is broadly comparable to SELV, offering protection against electric shock based on separation and a limited voltage that won't harm a user in the event of a fault. Equipment supplied from either a SELV or ES1 source typically doesn't require testing, so this change is largely technical and should not impact those undertaking PAT testing.

Energy Source	Effect on Body	Effect on Combustible Material
Class 1	Not painful, but may be detectable	Ignition not likely
Class 2	Painful, but not an injury	Ignition possible, but limited growth and speed of fire
Class 3	Injury	Ignition likely, rapid growth and speed of fire

Counterfeit and substandard electrical equipment

The 5^th edition of the IET Code of Practice also acknowledges the growing problem of counterfeit and substandard electrical equipment, with guidance included in Appendix 13. This reflects what many people carrying out in-service inspection have been seeing for years, particularly with chargers, plug adaptors and other low-cost imports.

At Plugtest we have been highlighting this issue on our website for a long time, and we have also covered it on our PAT testing courses well before the 5^th edition was released. Spotting warning signs during the visual inspection stage is often the first and most important step. We have collected a range of real-world examples and guidance here: counterfeit electrical equipment.

Earlier editions of the Code of Practice

We also have a separate article on changes to the IET Code of Practice, which summarises the main updates from the 1^st edition onwards. This is useful if you’re comparing older PAT guidance or training material with the current 5^th edition.

Purchasing the Code of Practice

The latest edition of the Code of Practice is typically priced at around £60. As with many popular technical publications, counterfeit copies can occasionally appear. Genuine books now include a hologram on the inside front cover. If you’re attending a City & Guilds 2377-77 PAT course, you’ll need a copy for the exam. You can purchase a copy direct from the IET or Amazon^*.

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