PAT Testing Labels and Stickers: What the Colours Mean

Portable appliance testing labels are the visible link between a tested appliance and your records. When someone looks at a kettle, a monitor, or an extension lead, the PAT testing label tells them: this item has been tested, here is when, and here is when it is due again.

But PAT testing labels are not standardised. There is no single national colour scheme. Different organisations use different colours, different formats, and different amounts of information. This guide explains what the labels mean, what they should include, and how to use them properly.

What PAT Testing Labels Are For

A PAT label serves two purposes.

First, it communicates status. Staff can see at a glance whether an appliance has been tested and whether it passed. A "fail" or "do not use" label warns people not to plug something in.

Second, it connects the appliance to your register. The unique ID number on the label should match an entry in your PAT register. Without this link, your records cannot be tied to specific physical items — and a register full of entries that cannot be matched to real appliances is close to useless.

The IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment recommends labelling tested appliances, though it notes that labelling is not a legal requirement.

What Information Should Be on a PAT Label?

A well-designed PAT testing label includes:

Unique asset ID — the number that matches your register entry (e.g., PAT0147)
Test date — when the appliance was last tested
Next test date — when retesting is due
Tester name or initials — who carried out the test
Pass or fail — the test result

Some labels also include the organisation name and a barcode or QR code for scanning into a digital register.

The asset ID is the most important field. Without it, the label is just a sticker. With it, anyone can look up the full test history, location, and specification of that appliance in your records.

For guidance on structuring the register that your labels point to, use the PAT register template generator.

PAT Testing Label Colours: What They Mean

There is no British Standard or regulation that mandates specific colours for PAT labels. Colour schemes vary between testing companies, organisations, and label manufacturers. However, common conventions have emerged:

Green — Pass. The appliance has been tested and met the required standards. It is safe to use until the next test date shown on the label.

Red — Fail / Do Not Use. The appliance has failed testing. It should not be used until it has been repaired and retested, or it should be withdrawn from service.

Yellow/Amber — sometimes used for "tested, requires attention" or for visual inspection only (no full electrical test performed). Usage varies significantly between organisations.

Some organisations use a rotating annual colour scheme — a different colour each year to make it easy to spot appliances that have not been retested. For example: blue for 2025, green for 2026, orange for 2027. This makes overdue items visually obvious during a walkthrough, because any appliance still showing last year's colour has missed its retest window.

The key point: whatever colour system you use, document it. If your green labels mean "pass" and your blue labels mean "tested in Q1," write that down so anyone — including new staff, auditors, or your insurer — can interpret the labels correctly.

Types of PAT Testing Labels

Pass Labels

The standard pass label. Applied after an appliance passes its combined inspection and test. Typically green, includes all standard fields (asset ID, test date, next test date, tester).

Fail Labels / Do Not Use Labels

Applied when an appliance fails testing. Usually red with clear "DO NOT USE" or "FAILED" text. The appliance should be immediately withdrawn from service.

Some organisations apply fail labels and then physically disconnect or isolate the appliance (removing the plug from the socket, cable-tying the lead) to prevent use before repair or disposal.

Visual Inspection Labels

Used when only a visual inspection has been carried out (no electrical tests). Some organisations use a different colour or wording to distinguish these from full combined inspection and test labels.

Cable Wrap Labels

Designed to wrap around power cables rather than stick to the appliance body. Useful for equipment where the casing does not have a flat surface for a standard adhesive label — or where labels on the body would be removed during cleaning.

Are PAT Testing Labels Legally Required?

No. There is no UK law that requires PAT testing labels to be applied to appliances.

However, the IET Code of Practice recommends labelling as good practice. And practically, labels are the only way for staff to identify tested equipment on sight. Without labels, the only way to check whether an appliance has been tested is to look it up in the register — which most people will not do before plugging in a kettle.

Labels also support your PAT testing schedule. During a walkthrough or audit, labelled appliances can be quickly checked against the register. Unlabelled appliances are immediately flagged as either untested or missing from the system.

For the full picture on what is and is not legally required, see our PAT testing frequency guide.

Label Materials and Durability

PAT testing labels need to survive the environment they are placed in. Common materials:

Self-adhesive vinyl — the standard choice for most office and commercial environments. Sticks to smooth plastic and metal surfaces. Durable enough for indoor use but can peel in humid or greasy environments (kitchens, workshops).

Tamper-evident labels — designed to break apart or leave a residue if someone tries to remove them. Useful where there is a risk of labels being swapped between appliances or removed to disguise a fail result.

Cable wrap labels — flexible material that wraps around a cable and sticks to itself. Stays in place better than flat labels on round cables. Harder to accidentally remove.

Write-on vs pre-printed — some labels come with blank fields to be filled in by hand. Others are printed from a PAT testing device or label printer with all test data pre-populated. Printed labels are more legible and harder to alter, but write-on labels work fine for smaller operations.

For outdoor or harsh environments, look for labels rated for UV resistance and waterproofing. Standard indoor vinyl labels will degrade quickly in direct sunlight or heavy moisture.

Connecting Labels to Your PAT Register

The label on the appliance and the entry in your register must tell the same story. Here is how to keep them aligned:

Use sequential, unique numbering. Start at 001 or 0001 and work upward. Do not reuse numbers — even if an appliance is disposed of, retire that number.

Label at the point of test. Apply the new label immediately after testing, not later. Delays create opportunities for mismatched data.

Replace labels at every retest. Old labels should be removed or covered when a new test is completed. An appliance with three overlapping labels is confusing. The current label should be the only one visible.

Include the asset ID in your register as the primary identifier. Every search, every report, every retest reminder should reference this number. It is the thread that ties the physical appliance to its digital record.

For more on building a PAT testing schedule that keeps your labels and register in sync, see our guide to creating a workplace PAT testing schedule.

Tips for Label Management

Order labels in advance. Running out of labels mid-testing session means either stopping or testing without labelling — both bad options.
Check label legibility during walkthroughs. Faded, peeling, or illegible labels should be flagged for replacement at the next retest.
Standardise label placement. Decide where on each appliance type the label goes (e.g., near the power entry point, on the base) and be consistent. This makes walkthroughs faster.
Train staff to recognise labels. Make sure everyone knows what a red label means and what to do if they find an unlabelled appliance.

For the broader context on PAT testing and why it matters, see our guide to PAT testing records.

Keep Labels and Records in Sync

The biggest label management challenge is keeping physical labels matched to digital records — especially as appliances move, get retested, or are replaced. PATvault uses unique asset IDs as the backbone of your register, so every label number maps directly to a complete test history.

Join the PATvault waitlist to get early access when we launch.