Seaward’s
latest electrical safety tester establishes a brand new approach to portable
appliance testing. Uniquely,
the innovative new Apollo 600 is equipped with onboard risk assessment tools to
assist the user and ensure a proportionate response to the inspection and
testing of electrical equipment.
The new multi-purpose PAT
tester combines electrical testing with sophisticated safety data collection
and handling features, including an onboard digital camera, to help those
involved in maintaining safety in the workplace to demonstrate compliance with
all the latest guidance on inspection and testing programmes.
In
this way, the combined risk assessment and electrical safety inspection and
testing capabilities of Apollo600 have been specially designed to mirror the
latest advice provided by HSE and the fourth edition of the IET Code of
Practice for compliance with the Electricity At Work Regulations 1989, and
Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.
The
new guidance stresses the importance of taking a structured approach to risk
assessment for the determination of equipment inspection and testing intervals.
This puts a new emphasis on the roles of the dutyholder and the person
performing the inspection and testing in the determination of retest intervals
and the management of test results.
The
Apollo600 is designed to assist in this process by combining all the
electrical safety testing functions of a conventional PAT tester with an
integral risk assessment tool and a digital camera to capture images for
inclusion in risk and inspection records, and a retest calculation aid.
The
new instrument includes all of the electrical safety tests required by the IET
Code of Practice including, earth continuity, insulation resistance at 250V or
500V, protective conductor current, touch current, IEC lead polarity and
portable RCD trip time, without the risk of tripping the installation RCD.
In
addition to testing plug in appliances, Apollo 600 is fully equipped to test
permanently connected and 3 phase electrical equipment as required by the new
Code of Practice.
For
broader safety requirements, the new concept tester can also record a wide
range of other health and safety inspections and tests, including fire
detection and alarm systems, and emergency lighting checks, together with the
ability to output a wide range of safety labels and test reports and certificates.
All
of this data can be linked with PAT results to provide a comprehensive
workplace monitoring systems for health and safety matters.
The
introduction of Apollo 600 is complemented by upgraded test results
management software in the form of the PATGuard 3 program. The improved
features of this high performance software include an intuitive user Interface
that allows data to be downloading quickly and reports to be created easily.
The
software enables users to tag photographs to assets, sites, locations and test
results with the built in universal risk assessment tool allowing full
recording and reporting of hazards and any corrective actions needed.
As
well as comprehensive PAT reports, PATGuard 3 can also generate additional
reports on health and safety matters, including fire alarm systems and
emergency lighting.
The
new Apollo 600 and PATGuard 3 software are the latest additions to a
comprehensive range of PAT testers, accessories and training materials provided
by Seaward to help maintain electrical safety in the workplace.