PAT testing for stage use

I have some stage props that are made of wood and are about 3ft wide,

3ft high, and 18inches from front to back. They contain 12V rechargeable batteries and two enclosed halogen lights (12W). Other than that they are empty boxes. There is no mains connection. Do these items need PAT testing? Does anyone have experience of dealing with fire officers about such matters?

Bill

Reply to
Bill Wright
Loading thread data ...

PAT only applies to mains kit, no mains nothing to test. You may come across a "safety officer" who thinks anything electrical has to have a PAT sticker...

Fire risk is another matter though, is there "adequate" ventilation/cooling of the lamps?

Reply to
Dave Liquorice

I don't think that is true. How about an emergency lighting system fed by a bank of batteries at 230v?

In that case, there is very little electrical risk, so a risk assessment will show that they may not need testing, but, there is a fire risk even with 12v, and especially with 12v halogens.

Reply to
A.Lee

Fuse batteries, glass screen halogens, SLA to avoid spill, mount so wood's at safe temps.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

safe temps.

What would you fuse the batteries to? What temperature would you raise them to for the fusion process?

Methinks anything containing halogens and emitting light would have a glass screen incidentally.

What's an SLA?

Even a Thespian may have a problem turning 12Watts into an inferno.

As a final point, low voltage equipment is included in PAT regs. If the equipment has an incorporated mains supply, even the LV bits must be intact and fit for purpose.

HN

Reply to
Archibald

safe temps.

Of course it is. Most PAT is about 230V - which is LV.

How about ELV? :-)

Reply to
polygonum

safe temps.

then you'd be wrong

Maybe. An engineer wouldnt.

wallwarts are widely used to get round that, could be a useful strategy for the op.

NT

Reply to
meow2222

Doesn't sound very portable to me.

Colin Bignell

Reply to
Nightjar

I can't say I've ever encountered a 230v emergency lighting system; only 48/50v ones. Even they're a bit large to be called "portable", and they've always been "hard-wired" to the mains.

I've constructed several "practical props" ("pracs") for stage use. The essential thing is to use common sense. Very often a prac is only in operational use for a few seconds or minutes, so overheating shouldn't be a problem in this case if you give some thought to your design.

NEVER EVER trust an actor/actress to switch, say, a light on or off on a set. Fit a light switch which the luvvie can (hopefully) put their hand near, but ALWAYS have the light controlled by the lighting tech.

Similarly with on-stage telephones. If a phone has to ring it's usual for it to have its handset properly seated in its cradle - DON'T rely on that when it has to ring. Use a separate bell, controlled by fx.

Reply to
Frank Erskine

safe temps.

Sealed lead acid.

Reply to
F Murtz

In-service Inspection and testing has nothing to do with just 'portable' equipment. Electric showers, hand dryers, HV equipment are all covered.

Reply to
A.Lee

That was just an example. In-service Inspection covers 'all electrical systems', which does include battery powered appliances. A risk assessment will show a 12V battery pack supplying a lamp will be of very low risk, so maybe not worthy of testing.

'Portable' is a poor way of describing In-service inspection and testing (the 'proper name). It covers "(from the code of practice), "all electrical equipment, whether permanently connected, or connected by a plug and socket"

Reply to
A.Lee

service level agreement Symbionese liberation army Seven letter acronym.

Reply to
The Natural Philosopher

What do you think the P in PAT is for? Prat? Picnic? Purple?

MBQ

Reply to
Man at B&Q

Portable Appliance Testing, which the question was about, does though.

Colin Bignell

Reply to
Nightjar

*will*? That's sounds like a very poor pre-judged risk asessment done by someone who is not competent.

MBQ

Reply to
Man at B&Q

Them too.

Reply to
F Murtz

Portable - but it's the testing that must be portable, not the appliance being tested (which should be tested at point of use whenever possible, and not moved to a testing location).

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel

who invented that idea? It's the testing of "Portable Appliances". That came in because they tended to get ignored when the installation was tested. It all comes under the "Electricity at Work Regulations".

Reply to
charles

Already answered back up the thread - it's called In-Service Inspection and testing of Electrical Equipment, not PAT. The testing has to be carried in the context of the use, not of the appliance in isolation. There might be nothing electrically wrong with a hot air paint stripper, but unless you can see it's been provided has a hand drier in the gents, you will not fail its testing as you should. Likewise, you might be presented with an Argos £10 kettle which is brand new, but unless you can see it's being used by an office of 100 people at 100% duty cycle, you are unlikely to fail it as unsuitable for use or requiring a very short retest period (which is unlikely to be economic).

Reply to
Andrew Gabriel

HomeOwnersHub website is not affiliated with any of the manufacturers or service providers discussed here. All logos and trade names are the property of their respective owners.