Commercial

Test & Tag — What Newcastle Businesses Need to Know

📅 February 2025 ⏱ 3 min read ✍️ Nate's Rates Electrical, Newcastle NSW

Test and tag — formally portable appliance testing (PAT testing) — is the process of electrically testing portable equipment in a workplace and attaching a compliance tag. In NSW it's governed by AS/NZS 3760 and is a WHS requirement for most businesses.

Who Needs Test and Tag?

Any business that has portable electrical equipment used in the workplace — which is almost every business. Construction sites are the most commonly audited, but offices, workshops, cafes, retail stores, and home-based businesses with employees all fall under the WHS requirement.

Required Testing Intervals

Environment	Testing Interval
Construction and demolition sites	Every 3 months
Factories, workshops, manufacturing	Every 6 months
Office and commercial environments	Every 5 years
Hire equipment	Before each hire
Hostile environments (wet, dusty, heat)	Every 6 months

⚠️ Insurance note: If you have an electrical incident and your portable equipment wasn't tested per AS/NZS 3760, your WorkCover and public liability insurer will ask about your compliance records. Lack of documentation shifts liability.

What We Provide

Nate tests each portable appliance, attaches a pass/fail tag with the test date and next due date, and provides a full register of all equipment tested. Your documentation is sorted for any audit or insurance query.

Need Test and Tag in Newcastle?

We come to you — offices, construction sites, workshops. Get in touch for a quote.

⚡ Get a Quote