Home › Articles & guides › Portable Appliance Testing Perth - PAT Testing VS Test & Tag Explained
Compliance
⏱ 4 min read
📅 Updated May 2026
PTTS Technican Team
COMPLIANCE GUIDE
PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING PERTH - PAT TESTING VS TEST & TAG EXPLAINED
Local WA Technicians Industry Leading Digital Reports Trusted by over 600 WA Businesses Licensed & Insured Competitive Local Rates
Quick Answer:
PAT testing and test & tag are the same process - just different names.
✅Same visual inspection process
✅Same electrical testing with a PAT tester
✅Same pass/fail tag applied
✅Governed in WA by AS/NZS 3760
✅PTTS provides this services across Perth, WA
WHAT IS PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING (PAT TESTING)
Portable appliance testing (commonly referred to as PAT testing) is the routine inspection and electrical testing of appliances to ensure they are safe for use. The term is widely used in the United Kingdom and is familiar to many professionals who have worked in electrical compliance or workplace safety in that part of the world.
In Australia, the same process exists and captures exactly the same information, it is simply referred to as test and tag rather than PAT testing. The underlying principles are identical: a qualified technician visually inspects the appliance, processes it through a portable appliance tester (PAT tester), applies a pass or fail tag, and provides a report of the test results. Whether you call it PAT testing or test and tag, the outcome is the same, a documented record of whether each electrical appliance in your workplace is safe for continued use.
Portable appliance testing in Australia is governed by Australian Standard AS/NZS 3760:2022 - In service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment. This standard sets out the requirements for how appliances must be inspected and tested, the acceptable pass/fail criteria, how equipment must be tagged, and how records must be kept.
In this article:
Need PAT testing in Perth
Certified technicians, digital compliance reports and a free formal quote - no obligation.
or call 08 6109 8591
Written By:
PTTS Technical Team
Certified technicians, Perth WA
All PTTS technicians hold current RCD testing competency certifications. Content reviewed against Electricity Regulations 1947, Department of mine, industry & regulations (DEMIRS) and WHS Act 2022
WHAT IS TEST AND TAG IN AUSTRALIA?
Test and tag in Australia is the process of inspecting, electrically testing, and tagging portable electrical equipment to confirm it is safe for use in the workplace. It is formally governed by AS/NZS 3760 - In service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment, and is recognised under Work Health and Safety legislation across Australia, including in Western Australia under the WHS (General) Regulations 2022.
The goal is straightforward: prevent electrical shocks, fires, and equipment failures by identifying unsafe appliances before they cause harm. Every portable appliance connected to a mains power outlet in a workplace (from power tools and computers to kettles and extension leads) falls within scope.
When an appliance is tested, it must be tagged with a label showing the test date, the next scheduled retest date, and the details of the person who performed the test. This tag, together with the detailed digital report issued by PTTS, gives businesses a complete and auditable record of their electrical compliance position.
ARE PAT TESTING AND TEST & TAG THE SAME THING?
Yes - PAT testing and test and tag refer to the same process. The underlying principle is identical in both cases: visually inspect the appliance, process it through a portable appliance tester, apply a pass or fail tag, and report the test results to the client.
WHY AS/NZS 3760 GOVERNS PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING IN WA
In Western Australia, portable appliance testing is governed by AS/NZS 3760:2022, the nationally recognised electrical safety standard for the in-service inspection and testing of electrical equipment. Western Australia adopts this standard because it is the accepted benchmark for electrical compliance across Australia, providing a consistent and rigorous framework for ensuring workplace safety.
Under the Work Health and Safety (General) Regulations 2022 (WA), persons conducting a business or undertaking (PCBUs) are required to ensure that electrical risks in the workplace are eliminated or minimised. AS/NZS 3760:2022 provides the accepted method for demonstrating that this obligation is being met, making regular portable appliance testing a legal compliance requirement for most Perth businesses, not simply a recommended practice.
PORTABLE APPLIANCE TESTING AT PTTS - WHAT WE COVER
At PTTS, we complete a variety of portable appliance testing across Perth, ranging from single phase appliances (the standard 240V equipment found in offices, warehouses, hospitality venues, and retail stores) through to three phase appliances, which covers heavier industrial machinery and equipment operating on 415V.
Both single phase and three phase testing align directly with the portable appliance testing and test and tag of electrical items as defined in AS/NZS 3760:2022. All items tested are covered under this national standard, providing an accurate and consistent framework for ensuring your Perth business is protected from electrical risk. Whether you are a small business with 20 appliances or a large industrial operation with thousands of items across multiple sites, PTTS has the capacity, equipment, and certification to handle the job.
WHETHER YOU CALL IT PAT TESTING OR TEST & TAG - PTTS CAN HELP!
Regardless of the terminology, PTTS covers all your portable appliance testing needs across Perth WA. Get a free, no-obligation quote from our certified technicians today.