Care homes and NHS trusts face specific electrical safety obligations under HTM 06-01, CQC Fundamental Standards, and the Electricity at Work Regulations. We explain what is required and how to stay compliant.
Why electrical safety is a higher-stakes issue in healthcare
In most commercial environments, an electrical fault causes disruption and potential injury. In a care home or NHS setting, the consequences can be more severe. Residents and patients may be unable to evacuate quickly. Life-critical equipment must remain operational. CQC inspectors will ask for evidence of a systematic approach to equipment safety.
The legal and regulatory framework for electrical equipment testing in healthcare is more prescriptive than in most other sectors, and the consequences of non-compliance — enforcement action, prosecution, or loss of registration — are correspondingly more serious.
The legal framework
Care homes and NHS settings must comply with several overlapping pieces of legislation and guidance:
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require that all electrical systems, including portable appliances, are maintained in a safe condition. This applies to all employers, including care home operators and NHS trusts.
The Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 places a general duty on employers to ensure the health, safety, and welfare of employees and others who may be affected by their activities — including residents, patients, and visitors.
The Health and Social Care Act 2008 (Regulated Activities) Regulations 2014 — specifically Regulation 12 (Safe care and treatment) — requires registered providers to assess and mitigate risks to the health and safety of service users. Electrical equipment safety falls within this requirement.
CQC Fundamental Standards require that care providers ensure the premises and equipment used are safe, suitable, and properly maintained. CQC inspectors will look for evidence of a systematic approach to equipment maintenance, including test records.
HTM 06-01: Electrical Services Supply and Distribution is the NHS technical memorandum that provides detailed guidance on the management of electrical equipment in healthcare premises. It sets out specific requirements for the inspection and testing of portable and fixed electrical equipment.
What HTM 06-01 requires
HTM 06-01 distinguishes between medical electrical equipment (equipment used in direct patient care) and non-medical electrical equipment (general-purpose appliances used in the building). Both categories require regular inspection and testing, but the requirements differ.
Medical electrical equipment is subject to additional requirements under BS EN 62353 (now IEC 62353), which sets out specific test methods for in-service testing of medical electrical equipment. Testing of medical equipment should be carried out by a competent person with specific knowledge of medical electrical safety.
Non-medical electrical equipment — kettles, televisions, vacuum cleaners, catering equipment, office equipment — is tested in accordance with the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment (5th Edition). HTM 06-01 recommends annual testing of Class I non-medical equipment in healthcare settings.
Recommended testing intervals for care homes and NHS settings
| Equipment type | Recommended interval |
|---|---|
| Class I non-medical equipment (kettles, toasters, floor lamps) | 12 months |
| Class II non-medical equipment (double-insulated IT equipment) | 24 months |
| Catering equipment | 12 months |
| Extension leads and multi-way adaptors | 12 months |
| Medical electrical equipment (IEC 62353) | As specified by manufacturer or risk assessment |
| Outdoor and grounds equipment | 6 months |
These intervals reflect the higher-risk environment of a care home or NHS setting. The volume of use, the vulnerability of residents and patients, and the scrutiny of CQC inspections all justify a more frequent testing programme than would be appropriate in a low-risk office environment.
What appliances are typically found in care homes?
A typical care home contains a large and varied inventory of electrical appliances across several distinct areas:
Resident rooms: televisions, bedside lamps, electric blankets, phone chargers, personal fans or heaters, electric razors and hairdryers.
Common areas: televisions, music systems, electric recliner chairs, floor lamps, fans.
Kitchen and catering: commercial ovens, hobs, microwaves, fridges, freezers, dishwashers, food processors, kettles, toasters, hot water urns.
Laundry: washing machines, tumble dryers, irons, ironing boards with heated surfaces.
Staff areas: computers, printers, kettles, microwaves, desk lamps.
Maintenance and grounds: power tools, lawnmowers, pressure washers, extension leads.
A medium-sized care home may have several hundred appliances in total. Managing this inventory without a systematic testing programme and a well-maintained asset register is not feasible.
The importance of the appliance register
In a CQC inspection, the inspector will typically ask to see evidence that electrical equipment is being maintained safely. A comprehensive appliance register — recording the make, model, serial number, location, date of last test, test result, and next test due date for every appliance — is the most effective way to demonstrate this.
The register also has a practical safety function: it allows you to cross-reference your inventory against product recall notices. The 2026 Haier tumble dryer recall, for example, is directly relevant to care home laundry facilities. A care home with a detailed appliance register can check whether any of its tumble dryers are affected within minutes. A care home without one cannot.
Electric blankets: a specific risk
Electric blankets are a particular concern in care homes. They are used by residents who may not notice signs of damage, they are subject to frequent washing and folding which can damage the internal elements, and they are a known cause of fires. The Electrical Safety Council recommends that electric blankets are tested annually and replaced after 10 years.
Care homes should include electric blankets in their PAT testing programme and maintain a record of the age of each blanket. Blankets that are visibly damaged, have been washed incorrectly, or are more than 10 years old should be taken out of service.
CQC inspections and electrical safety
CQC inspectors assess electrical safety as part of the Safe domain of the inspection framework. They may:
- Ask to see PAT test records and the appliance register
- Check that test certificates are current and cover all areas of the building
- Ask about the process for managing recalled appliances
- Check that medical electrical equipment is being tested in accordance with IEC 62353
- Ask about the process for reporting and removing faulty equipment from service
A care home that cannot produce current test records, or that has a significant number of appliances with overdue tests, is likely to receive a finding under the Safe domain.
GP surgeries and private clinics
GP surgeries and private clinics are subject to the same CQC Fundamental Standards as care homes. The volume of electrical equipment is typically lower, but the presence of medical electrical equipment — examination couches with electric adjustment, diagnostic equipment, autoclaves — means that the testing programme must cover both medical and non-medical equipment.
Private clinics that are not CQC-registered are still subject to the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 and the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974.
How Maritime Electrical Services can help
We provide PAT testing for NHS and care home settings across Kent, London, Essex, Surrey, West Sussex, East Sussex, and Hertfordshire.
Our engineers hold enhanced DBS certificates and are experienced in working in occupied care environments with minimal disruption to residents and staff. We test all non-medical appliance classes in accordance with the IET 5th Edition and HTM 06-01, provide a full asset register on completion, and issue pass and fail labels for every item tested.
We also provide a recall cross-referencing service: on completion of testing, we check your appliance inventory against current OPSS and Electrical Safety First recall notices and flag any affected items.
Contact us to discuss your care home or NHS testing requirements, or to request a quote.
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