Application

What is tested

A complete test consists of three parts that build on one another:

• Visual inspection – check the housing, connecting cable, plug, strain relief and labelling for external defects. By far the largest share of all defects is already noticed at this stage.
• Measurement – protective conductor resistance, insulation resistance and protective conductor current or touch current, depending on the protection class of the appliance.
• Functional test and documentation – function test, assessment of the measured values against the limit values and a traceable test report.

How often testing is required

There are no fixed intervals that apply to everyone – the operator's risk assessment is decisive. As a guide, the DGUV gives reference values, such as six months for portable equipment and three months on construction sites. If the failure rate in the tests is demonstrably below two per cent, the intervals can be extended. That is why clean documentation pays off twice: it proves the test and creates the basis for reducing the effort later on.

Suitable test instruments