PAT (Portable Appliance Testing)
DJmark is the ORIGINAL and MOST COMPREHENSIVE quality assessment standard for the UK mobile disco industry. We exist purely to help our members adhere to best practice and improve their business models through example and coaching.
Portable Appliance Testing (or rather "In-service Inspection & Testing of Electrical Equipment") applies to any piece of electrical equipment which connects to a premises mains supply and which is portable. Workplaces and public areas such as shops and restaurants all have to provide regular PAT testing of their portable appliances in order to comply with the Electricity At Work regulations, Provision and Use of Work Equipment regulations, to comply with Health & Safety requirements and satisfy fire inspectors. You've probably seen those little green "Pass" stickers on plugs and appliances?
However, there is currently no legal requirement for mobile entertainers to PAT test their equipment. To minimise the risk of fire and injury caused by appliances, especially high-powered audio and lighting equipment which is being used in a public place, DJmark considers it good practice for mobile DJs to regularly test their equipment. This is why it is a condition of accreditation at ALL levels.
Lots of disco equipment is used in environments where the public in attendance are often the worse for drink - increasing the risk of them coming into contact with equipment they might otherwise ignore and significantly increasing the risk of liquid spillages affecting the equipment. Any item without a good earth connection could then become lethal. Regular PAT testing would identify equipment with poor connections enabling them to be repaired or taken out of service.
Be aware that more and more venues are now insisting that contractors provide PLI before being allowed access to the premises. The worst case scenario is a party with no music!
There's a Wikipedia entry Here.
