What test and tag involves
Test and tag is the inspection and testing of portable electrical equipment, generally done to AS/NZS 3760 In-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment. It applies to equipment that plugs into a standard outlet, such as extension leads, power boards, IT equipment, kitchen appliances, power tools, heaters and portable RCDs.
Each item goes through two stages. First a visual inspection, where we check the plug, lead, cord grip, casing and any guards for damage, heat marks or unsafe repairs. Most failures are found at this stage. Then electrical testing with a calibrated portable appliance tester, which, depending on the equipment class, includes earth continuity and insulation resistance or leakage current. Portable RCDs are also trip tested.
Items that pass are fitted with a durable tag showing the test date, the tester and when the next test is due. Items that fail are tagged out of service and removed from use, and the owner is told why.
How often equipment needs testing
How often equipment needs testing depends on the environment it is used in. AS/NZS 3760 sets out indicative intervals, with shorter intervals for harsher environments. Construction sites and hire equipment sit at the short end, commonly every three months. Factories and workshops are tested more often than a typical office, where equipment is less likely to be damaged.
In Queensland, the Electrical Safety Regulation 2013 includes specific requirements for testing electrical equipment used in certain types of work, including construction. Employers also have general duties under work health and safety laws to manage electrical risks. If you are not sure which interval applies to your workplace, the Electrical Safety Office at electricalsafety.qld.gov.au is a good reference, and we can recommend a schedule when we assess your site. Our article on how often to test and tag covers the common intervals in more detail.
Workplaces we test
- Offices and corporate tenancies
- Construction sites, site sheds and subcontractor tools
- Workshops, warehouses and light industrial sites
- Retail stores and shopping centre tenancies
- Cafés, restaurants, bars and commercial kitchens
- Childcare centres, schools and medical practices
- Strata common areas, gyms and community facilities
On construction sites
Construction sites are hard on electrical equipment. Leads get run over, tools get dropped and cords get dragged through water and concrete. That is why testing intervals on site are short and why site managers need a reliable way to keep track.
We can attend site on a regular schedule, test builders and subcontractor equipment in one visit and keep a single register for the project. Site boards and portable RCDs are included as part of the program. For builders, this ties in with our construction electrical work, so temporary power and equipment testing are handled by the same contractor.
Keeping disruption low
Every item has to be unplugged for testing, which can interrupt work if it isn’t planned. We work through the site in a logical order, test IT equipment during breaks or before start time where possible, and leave critical equipment until a time that suits you. For offices and retail sites, testing is often done early in the morning or after close so staff and customers aren’t affected.
Servers and other equipment that can’t be powered down are identified before we start, and we agree how they will be handled.
Your test and tag register
The tags are only part of the record. After each visit you receive a register listing every item tested, with its location, description, test results, pass or fail status and next due date. Failed items are listed separately with the reason for failure.
A clear register makes it easy to show compliance to insurers, auditors and principal contractors, and to plan the next round of testing. We keep a copy on file, so the next visit starts from your existing list and missing or new items are easy to spot.
Repairs and replacements
Because we are licensed electricians rather than testers only, we can replace damaged plugs, re-terminate leads and fix simple faults during the visit, then retest and tag the item. Where equipment is not worth repairing, we will tell you so it can be replaced. If testing uncovers problems with the fixed wiring, such as outlets with reversed polarity or RCDs that fail to trip, we can quote and fix those too.
Many clients combine test and tag with emergency lighting testing and RCD testing as part of a maintenance contract, which keeps all compliance testing on one schedule and one set of records.