“Test and tag” comes up a lot for businesses, but plenty of people aren’t sure exactly what it involves or how often it needs doing. Here’s a plain-English rundown.
Test and tag is a process of visually inspecting and electrically testing portable appliances, think power tools, extension cords, kitchen equipment, computers and chargers, to confirm they’re safe to use. Once tested, each item gets a tag showing the test date and next due date.
What Test and Tag Checks For
The visual check looks for damaged cords, cracked plugs, or exposed wiring. The electrical test, done with a portable appliance tester (PAT), checks earth continuity, insulation resistance, and polarity to make sure the appliance is safe and won’t leak current or shock a user.
Testing frequency depends on the environment, equipment in a workshop or construction site is tested more often than the same item in a low-risk office.
Who Needs It Done
Test and tag isn’t just good practice, under the Health and Safety at Work Act, businesses have a duty of care to make sure electrical equipment used by staff and the public is safe. Untested or faulty equipment can lead to injury, fire, and liability if something goes wrong.
Most workplaces, from offices to warehouses to hospitality venues, need a testing schedule in place. Landlords with rental properties supplying appliances, and businesses hiring out equipment, also have obligations to keep on top of.
How Often Does Test and Tag Need Doing?
There’s no single answer, it comes down to how hard the gear works and where it lives. AS/NZS 3760, the standard used here in New Zealand, sets out typical intervals:
- Construction and demolition sites: every 3 months
- Factories, workshops and warehouses: every 6 months
- Commercial kitchens, hire gear and equipment that gets moved around a lot: every 6 to 12 months
- Offices, shops and equipment that stays put on a desk: every 12 months, and longer again in genuinely low risk setups
Brand new equipment doesn’t need a full test before it goes into service, but it does need a tag showing the date it entered service so the clock starts. Portable RCDs are the exception, they need a push button test far more often than that. If you’re not sure where your site sits, we’ll work it out with you on the first visit.
What Sets Us Apart
50+ Years of Proven Experience
Established in Auckland since 1974, French Electrical has been trusted across the region for over 50 years. Our team of registered Master Electricians delivers work that's built to last every time.
24/7 Emergency Response
Electrical breakdowns don't keep business hours. French Electrical provides round-the-clock emergency response for residential, commercial and industrial clients across Auckland, responding fast to minimise downtime and protect your property.
SiteWise 100 Certified
French Electrical holds SiteWise 100 certification — New Zealand's highest contractor health and safety rating. This is required by many commercial, industrial and government clients and reflects our commitment to safe worksite practice.
$20,000 Workmanship Guarantee
As Quality Assured members of Master Electricians, our residential work carries a $20,000 workmanship guarantee. If anything falls short of standard, we put it right — labour and materials — at no cost to you.
What Happens When Something Fails
A failed item gets a fail tag and comes out of service on the spot. That’s the whole point of the exercise, catching the fault before someone gets a shock or a lead starts a fire.
From there it’s usually one of three outcomes: a straightforward repair like a new plug top or a re-terminated lead, a repair back through the manufacturer, or the item gets written off and replaced. Anything repaired is retested and re-tagged before it goes back into use.
We’ll also tell you what failed and why. If the same fault keeps turning up across a batch of extension leads or one brand of tool, that’s worth knowing, you can fix the cause rather than the symptom.
French Electrical provides test and tag as part of our commercial and industrial electrical services for Auckland businesses, with clear records and reminders for when your next round is due. Get in touch to set up a schedule that fits your workplace. For workplace obligations, see WorkSafe New Zealand’s guidance on electrical equipment safety.