Compliance obligation
Typically legally required for a retail business — typically renewing every year.
Status
Typically legally required
How often
Annual
Under
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989
PAT Testing is one of the obligations that typically applies to a retail business in the UK, under Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. It needs renewing every year, and enforcement can follow if it lapses.
The full legislation: Electricity at Work Regulations 1989; HSW Act 1974.
Annual. No statutory testing interval — frequency is risk-based (HSE guidance). Annual is a common convention for many commercial environments; lower-risk equipment can be checked less often.
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Is pat testing a legal requirement for a retail business?
PAT Testing typically applies to a retail business under UK law, under Electricity at Work Regulations 1989.
How often does a retail business need pat testing?
Annual. No statutory testing interval — frequency is risk-based (HSE guidance).
What's the penalty for not having pat testing?
Enforced under the HSW Act 1974: summary conviction an unlimited fine and/or up to 6 months' imprisonment; on indictment an unlimited fine and/or up to 2 years' imprisonment.
Keeval tracks pat testing against your actual premises, watches the renewal date, and keeps the certificate inspection-ready — free, for all your sites, no card.
Track it freePAT Testing also applies to
Other retail obligations
See the full guide →This page highlights the obligation, frequency and penalties that typically apply to premises like yours in England & Wales — general information to help you act on your duties, not legal advice and not a definitive statement of your position. You remain the duty-holder; take your own professional advice where you need certainty. Keeval is a trading name of Brenkon Holdings Limited (no. 16987530).