PAT testing servers (in computer room/data center situations)

[Fatboy40]

I'm not quite sure where to ask this so I'll try here as it may get a wider audience ?.

Currently at work we've got an electrician on-site for a couple of month doing various bits and one of his tasks is to PAT test everything (I did this acouple of times in the 90's and hated, ****ty job !). Now, being that they're not hard wired to the mains a server is classed as a portable appliance, but I'll be honest and say that I don't want any PAT tester no matter how expensive it is doing earth tests or anything like that on ANY of my servers (e.g an HP DL380 G5 running ESX 3.5 and plenty of VM's).

I've had a look at a few sites and there's nothing specific about what you can get away with as a 'visual' inspection. I'm going to fight tooth and nail for all UPS's + switches + servers to just be visualy inspected.

Has anyone esle here been in a similar situation ?.

ta

[directhex]

I'd like to meet the guy with a 32A commando connector on his PAT test gear

[GoNz0]

you quite simply tell him that they only need soft testing, a visual is also required. unless of course he signs the bit of paper accepting responsibility for any damage caused, he wont and will then do a soft test.

i work on behalf of HP and they will not cover anything thats blown up after its been pat tested in the normal way, they will however cover soft testing as this doesnt damage the equipment,

if he doesnt have the equipment to soft test, escort him off site.

Tests on computer equipment are "soft tests" of 200mA on earth continuity. No operational tests are carried out on computer CPUs.

[shackahn]

I am probably way off the mark here but...

I thought pat testing involved testing the lead to the appliance? Therefore this wouldnt affect your servers would it? Except they would have to be powered down?

[Stringent]

We have to have our servers PAT tested. They can be visually checked once, but next year they have to stick them on the meters. Usually there is no problem, but the guys who do our school stuff have decent machines to do it. They even print the labels off too!

[Fatboy40]

I'd like to meet the guy with a 32A commando connector on his PAT test gear

You'll have to pay our shop floor a visit then, we've had to invest in this sort of kit to fully test some of the equipement there

As long as the power cable's not permanently connected to the mains the equipment is portable, even if it take a fork lift to move it

[Fatboy40]

Thanks for that GoNz0

i work on behalf of HP and they will not cover anything thats blown up after its been pat tested in the normal way, they will however cover soft testing as this doesnt damage the equipment

I'm very interested in this, is there any way of obtaining proof of this policy or is this just info for HP internal consumption ?.

[Fatboy40]

...but the guys who do our school stuff have decent machines to do it. They even print the labels off too!

Same here, but from what I know/understand there's allways the possibility that you can end up with a fried piece of hardware.

All you need is someone to use the wrong test, or for there to be something slightly wrong with the hardware being tested. I'd rather have a server with a fault that MAY last me until it gets replaced (or before then it may be replaced anyhow due to increased load/usage) than a server killed off by someone trying to do there job.

[Fatboy40]

I thought pat testing involved testing the lead to the appliance?...

That's just one part of it, there can be much more e.g. if the applicance has exposed metal there's earth tests to be done etc.

[GoNz0]

its in the regs m8, not an internal thing just following the guidelines, computer equipment is not to be pat tested the normaly way as you will blow something up nearly every time, the regs point out that they should be soft tested to confirm the earth is working with no more than 200ma..

i raised the question to hp's tech line after a customer admitted the pc that had a dead psu, ram and cpu had just been pat tested as it had a failed sticker on it, i spoke to the company who tested it and they said they had pat tested in the normal way, i told hp and got a call back explaining the regs and that the units warranty was now null and void due to the full pat test.

i took great pleasure informing the customer who also took great pleasure in ringing the sparky and informing him he was liable as he didnt do the correct test and owed themover £1000, he refused to pay, the customer then pointed out that they had not payed the fee for testing all the equipment and if he wanted the balance he should pop round..

if you need proof have a google around, i found this on the 1st hit http://www.electratest.com/testing.htm

see section 4

also

http://www.pat-testing.info/PAT-Testers.htm

[Fatboy40]

This is the tester being used...

http://www.pat-testing.info/seaward-europaplus.htm

... and it has an 'IT Earth Continuity Test' which is about all I'm going to allow on the servers, but can it be successfully tested whilst a server is running and connected the mains/a ups ?.

[GoNz0]

no u will need to power down each server and unplug from the ups, best bets a late night/weekend call

[Stringent]

If something does blow up as a result, think of it as a nice shiny new server.

[Vroomparrot]

Hmm. I'm sure we were told by our safety office that these days computer equipment does not need to be PAT tested. It's generally only things that tend to get moved around alot - kettles, fans etc. Will check with one of the guys who does our testing.

[Vroomparrot]

here you go:
http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/indg236.pdf

Page 7 - suggested Inital Intervals

IT; eg desktop computers, VDU screens:
User checks - No
Formal visual inspection - every 2-4 years
Combined inpection and testing - No if double insulated - otherwise 5 years

So if they are less than 5 years old tell them to stuff their testing kit where the sun don't shine and do a visual inspection. Pages 4-5 tell you what to lok out for in a visual inspection - no need to unplug them from my interpretation.

[Barakka]

Yep, it's all a matter of interpretation, servers in a comms room, fair enough, if the recommendation is not for the first 5 years then fine, leave it til then. If it's a PC in a high traffic environment like a warehouse then i'd recommend every 12-18 months. But don't forget after this initial test it would be onto the default 12-18 months interval.

But you will need to have a formal visual inspection, and yes, it should be unplugged because the visual inspection should be checking the full length of the mains lead, the pins and casing of the plug, and the rating of the fuse in the plug, if it's done properly.

Also, anyone who's had any PAT training in the last 5 years should know you only test IT equipment with mA loads.