AS/NZS 3760 compliant portable appliance testing for all workplace electrical equipment.
Test & Tag
Overview
Professional Portable Appliance Testing & Tagging
Test and Tag is the systematic process of visually inspecting and electrically testing portable electrical appliances to verify they are safe for continued use. Under AS/NZS 3760, every appliance with...
- Electrical faults are a leading cause of workplace fires, injuries, and fatalities in New Zealand every year.
- Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking) have a legal duty to ensure electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition.
- Insurance claims can be declined if portable appliances have not been tested to AS/NZS 3760 at the required intervals.
- A single faulty appliance — a frayed cord, a cracked plug, or degraded insulation — can put every person in your workplace at risk of electric shock or fire.
Visual Inspection
Plug, cord, casing check
Electrical Testing
Earth, insulation, leakage
QR Tag Applied
Compliance label attached
Digital Record
Stored in your portal
Why It Matters
Why Test & Tag matters
Electrical faults are a leading cause of workplace fires, injuries, and fatalities in New Zealand every year.
Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 2015, PCBUs (Persons Conducting a Business or Undertaking) have a legal duty to ensure electrical equipment is maintained in a safe condition.
Insurance claims can be declined if portable appliances have not been tested to AS/NZS 3760 at the required intervals.
A single faulty appliance — a frayed cord, a cracked plug, or degraded insulation — can put every person in your workplace at risk of electric shock or fire.
WorkSafe NZ inspectors can request documented evidence of electrical safety testing at any time.
Common Issues
Common Test & Tag faults
Damaged or frayed power cords
Exposed conductors pose an immediate risk of electric shock and can cause electrical fires.
Cord replaced on-site with correctly rated replacement and item retested before return to service.
Cracked or broken plug housings
Live pins become accessible, creating a high risk of electric shock for anyone handling the appliance.
Plug replaced with a compliant heavy-duty alternative and item retested.
Failed insulation resistance test
Current is leaking through degraded insulation to earth, creating a potential fire and shock hazard.
Item immediately removed from service, tagged as FAILED — DO NOT USE, and documented with photos.
Incorrect polarity
Equipment may operate incorrectly or become live under fault conditions, bypassing safety mechanisms.
Item removed from service for professional repair before further use.
Testing Frequency
How often should you test?
Inspection & Testing Intervals
Recommended inspection and testing frequencies based on AS/NZS 3760 for different workplace environments and equipment types.
Caution
This information should be read together with the AS/NZS 3760 standard as a whole, particularly Clause 2.1. Inspection intervals vary depending on equipment type and operating environment.
| Type of environment and/or equipment (a) | Equipment including Class I equipment, Class II equipment, cord sets, cord extension sets and EPOD’s (b) | Interval between inspection and tests | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residual Current Devices (RCD’s) | |||||
| Push Button test by user | Operating time and push-button test | ||||
| Portable (c) | Fixed (d) | Portable (e) | Fixed (f) | ||
1. Factories, workshops, places of work or repair manufacturing, assembly, maintenance or fabrication | 6 months | Daily, or before every use, whichever is the longer | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months |
2. Environment where the equipment or supply flexible cord is subject to flexing in normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a hostile environment | 12 months | 3 months | 6 months | 12 months | 12 months |
3. Environment where the equipment or supply cord is NOT subject to flexing in normal use and is NOT open to abuse and is NOT in a hostile environment | 5 years | 3 months | 6 months | 2 years | 2 years |
4. Residential type areas of hotels, residential institutions, motels, boarding houses, halls, hostels, accommodation houses, and the like | 2 years | 6 months | 6 months | 2 years | 2 years |
5. Equipment used for commercial cleaning | 6 months | Daily, or before every use, whichever is the longer | NA | 6 months | NA |
6. Hire Equipment Inspection | Prior to hire | Including push-button test by hirer prior to hire | NA | NA | NA |
Test and Tag | 3 months | NA | NA | 3 months | 12 months |
7. Repaired, serviced and second-hand equipment | After repair or service which could affect electrical safety, or on reintroduction to service, refer to AS/NZS 5762 | ||||
1Factories, workshops, places of work or repair manufacturing, assembly, maintenance or fabrication
2Environment where the equipment or supply flexible cord is subject to flexing in normal use OR is open to abuse OR is in a hostile environment
3Environment where the equipment or supply cord is NOT subject to flexing in normal use and is NOT open to abuse and is NOT in a hostile environment
4Residential type areas of hotels, residential institutions, motels, boarding houses, halls, hostels, accommodation houses, and the like
5Equipment used for commercial cleaning
6Hire Equipment
Inspection
Test and Tag
7Repaired, serviced and second-hand equipment
After repair or service which could affect electrical safety, or on reintroduction to service, refer to AS/NZS 5762
Important Note
Inspection frequencies depend on equipment type, condition, and working environment. Hostile environments require more frequent inspection and testing. Always refer to AS/NZS 3760 or contact our team if you are unsure which interval applies to your workplace.
Our Process
How Test & Tag works
Our streamlined process ensures every test & tag engagement is efficient, thorough, and fully documented.
Site Walk-Through
Our technician walks through your site to locate and identify all portable electrical equipment, including items in offices, kitchens, workshops, server rooms, and storage areas.
Visual Inspection
Each item is visually inspected for damage to plugs, cords, casings, and connections. Items with visible damage are flagged before electrical testing begins.
Electrical Testing
Calibrated PAT equipment runs earth continuity, insulation resistance, and earth leakage tests on each item. Test sequences are automated and results recorded digitally.
Result & Tagging
Pass or fail result determined. A durable QR-coded tag is applied to each tested item. Failed items are tagged with a FAILED — DO NOT USE label and documented.
Digital Reporting
Full compliance report with asset register, individual test results, pass/fail summary, photos of failed items, and recommendations delivered to your online portal within 24 hours.
What's Tested
Test & Tag checklist
Visual Inspection
Plugs, cords, casings, strain reliefs, and connections checked for damage, wear, heat damage, or unauthorised modifications.
Earth Continuity
Verifies the protective earth connection is intact with low resistance, ensuring fault current can safely trip the circuit protection.
Insulation Resistance
Measures insulation resistance between active/neutral conductors and earth at 500V DC to confirm no current leakage paths exist.
Earth Leakage
Measures leakage current flowing to earth during normal operation to verify it remains within safe limits.
Polarity Check
Verifies that active, neutral, and earth conductors are correctly wired in plugs and extension leads.
RCD Push-Button Test
Where an RCD is present, verifies the safety switch trips correctly when the test button is pressed.
What You Receive
What you receive
Digital Compliance Report
Comprehensive report with full asset register, individual test results for every item, pass/fail summary, failure details with photos, and recommendations for non-compliant items.
QR Asset Labels
Each tested item receives a unique QR code linking to its complete test history, compliance status, location, and next test due date — accessible from any smartphone.
Compliance Certificate
Formal compliance certificate confirming your workplace meets AS/NZS 3760 requirements, suitable for display, insurance submissions, and regulatory audits.
Online Portal Access
24/7 access to your complete asset register, compliance dashboard, test history, and downloadable reports from any device.
Automated Reminders
Email alerts sent to your designated contacts when items are approaching their next test due date, ensuring you never miss a retest deadline.
Benefits
Why choose our test & tag service
Full AS/NZS 3760 Compliance
Every test follows the New Zealand/New Zealand standard for in-service safety inspection and testing of electrical equipment.
QR-Coded Asset Tracking
Each item receives a unique QR code tag linking to its full test history, compliance status, and next test date.
Digital Reports in 24 Hours
Receive comprehensive compliance reports with asset registers, test results, pass/fail summaries, and recommendations.
Minimal Business Disruption
Our technicians work around your schedule, including after-hours and weekend testing at no extra charge.
Certified Technicians
All technicians hold Certificate II in Electrotechnology and carry $20 million public liability insurance.
Nationwide Coverage
Consistent service quality across Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch, Hamilton, Tauranga, and all major New Zealand cities.
Industries We Serve
Trusted across New Zealand's key industries
FAQ
Test & Tag FAQ
Related Services
Explore our other electrical testing services
Ready to Get Started?
Get a fast, obligation-free quote from New Zealand's trusted Test & Tag specialists.