Electrical safety evidence when buying second-hand equipment
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A test sticker does not answer every electrical safety question about used equipment. You need to know which item was checked, what the check covered, when it happened and whether anything has changed since.
Keep that evidence separate from whether the equipment suits your electrical supply and workplace. A sound appliance can still be unsuitable for a proposed connection or operating environment. Start the compatibility check with the electrical supply guide.
Ask for the record behind the label
A label may offer a useful reference number or date. Follow it to the report where one exists, then use these fields:
| Field | What to record |
|---|---|
| Equipment identity | Make, model, serial number or a clear asset identifier |
| Assessment date | When the recorded check took place |
| Scope | Visual examination, electrical tests or other work actually described |
| Result | Findings, limitations and any defects recorded |
| Action | Repairs or other follow-up, with supporting records |
| Later history | Damage, repair, alteration, storage or transport since the check |
| Current question | What still needs assessment for the intended use |
Do not expand a narrow report into a general claim. A result for one portable appliance does not cover an entire production line. A record for a detached lead does not describe the condition of the machine connected to it.
If the report cannot be matched to the equipment, record that mismatch. It is more useful than copying "tested" into your purchasing notes.
There is no universal annual PAT rule
HSE's portable appliance testing guidance explains that the law requires electrical equipment to be maintained to prevent danger, but does not prescribe a universal annual PAT test. The nature and frequency of checks depend on the equipment and its use.
This Great Britain guidance is not a reason to ignore missing evidence. It is a reason to ask what assessment is appropriate, rather than demanding an arbitrary sticker date as the only buying condition.
The catering electrical records guide gives an equipment-specific example of how photographs, fault descriptions and test records can complement each other.
Look at what happened after the check
Imagine a fictional mixer with a satisfactory record from six months ago. It has since been disconnected, moved into storage and transported to a sale site. The old record remains part of its history. It does not describe any damage or change occurring afterwards.
You do not need to diagnose that history yourself. Give the available documents and observations to a competent person who can advise on the present assessment and proposed use.
HSE's electrical equipment guidance covers maintaining equipment and working safely with it. Do not open covers, improvise a supply or energise an item during viewing simply to obtain your own demonstration. Agree any permitted assessment with the organiser and an appropriate competent provider.
Plan the assessment into the purchase
Ask who will carry out the checks needed before use, what access they require and what the quotation includes. Distinguish assessment from repair: identifying a defect does not include the cost or feasibility of correcting it.
Add this work to your installation and commissioning budget. Also allow for the possibility that assessment produces a decision not to put the item into service.
When asking UK Auction Group about a specific electrical lot, request the available report and a legible identity or rating plate photograph. State any visible discrepancy, such as a report number that does not match the label, so the organiser can seek a precise answer.
Sources
This guide gives general information. Equipment-specific, legal, tax and safety decisions may need a qualified adviser or competent specialist. The guides do not promise sale prices, fees or results.