Test and tag is the routine inspection and electrical testing of plug-in equipment: kettles, computers, power boards, extension leads, power tools and anything else on a flexible cord. Each item that passes gets a tag showing when it was tested and when it is due again.
We test offices, shops, cafes, rentals, schools and building sites across Auckland. Because our testers work alongside licensed electricians, faults are not just tagged and left: we can repair or replace them on the spot. Test and tag is one part of our wider commercial electrician services.
Pricing: a free quote and a fixed price agreed before we start. You get a written, itemised quote, and small jobs can be quoted from photos.
Need the fixed wiring and switchboard of a building inspected? See electrical inspections.
Is test and tag a legal requirement?
Not as such. WorkSafe is clear that testing and tagging is one useful way to check electrical equipment is safe, but it is not mandatory. What the law requires is that equipment is electrically safe and maintained in a safe condition. It is up to the person conducting the business or undertaking (PCBU) to decide how to meet that.
Test and tag is the most common way because of regulation 26 of the Electricity (Safety) Regulations 2010. Where a fitting or appliance is used by an employee or contractor of its owner, it is deemed to be electrically safe if it has a current tag issued in accordance with AS/NZS 3760. The Regulations currently cite the 2022 edition of that standard.
Rentals, hire equipment and leased premises
Regulation 26 also covers fittings and appliances supplied to a hirer or lessee, or to the occupier of rented or leased premises, such as a landlord's heater or a hire company's tools. Those items are deemed electrically safe either with a current AS/NZS 3760 tag, or if, when first made available, they are supplied through a portable RCD or an RCD-protected circuit that provides protection from electric shock.
For landlords, that means a choice between tagging supplied appliances and making sure they are on RCD-protected circuits. We can test the RCDs at the switchboard and advise which route suits your property.
How It Works
What we test
AS/NZS 3760 covers low voltage equipment connected by a flexible cord or plug, and it extends to cord extension sets, portable outlet devices such as power boards, and portable RCDs. Each item gets a visual inspection first: damaged cords, cracked plugs, missing earth pins and scorch marks fail before any meter is connected. Then we run the electrical tests the standard calls for, and push-button test portable RCDs.
One thing test and tag is not for: EV charging equipment. WorkSafe warns that a tag does not make modified EV charging cables safe, because the standard was designed for tools and leads. EV chargers are covered on our EV charger installation page.
- Kitchen appliances: kettles, toasters, microwaves, fridges
- IT equipment: computers, monitors, printers, chargers
- Power boards and extension leads
- Power tools and site equipment
- Portable RCDs
How often to retest
WorkSafe says the frequency depends on the nature of the equipment and the workplace. Equipment used outside and in damp conditions on a construction site needs testing far more often than a computer in an office. AS/NZS 3760 sets out recommended intervals for different environments, and AS/NZS 3012 gives guidance for electrical safety on construction and demolition sites.
We set the retest date for each item based on where it is used, record it in your register, and remind you before the next round is due. Whatever the interval, WorkSafe advises regularly looking at cords, plugs and tools for damage between tests, and remembering that equipment used outside in the damp still needs RCD protection.
Who can test, and what happens to failures
WorkSafe says the tester does not need to be a registered electrical worker, but must have the knowledge and skills to understand the standards involved. A PCBU can train a staff member or hire a third party. The catch is what comes next: only a registered electrical worker can fix the problems testing reveals.
That is where we differ from a testing-only service. When an item fails, we remove it from service, label it clearly, and either repair it on the day or quote a replacement. You get a register showing every item, its result, its tag number and its next test date.
- Failed items labelled and withdrawn from use
- Simple repairs such as plugs and cord ends done on site
- Replacements quoted where repair is not worth it
- Full register with results and retest dates
Why Choose Cheeky's Electrical for Test and Tag
Electricians, not just testers
Failures are repaired or replaced by licensed electricians, often on the same visit.
A register you can use
Every item, result, tag number and retest date, in a format you can hand to an auditor or insurer.
Retest reminders
We track due dates for each item and contact you before the next round.
Minimal disruption
We test desk by desk or before opening, so staff keep working.
Test and Tag FAQs
Is test and tag compulsory in New Zealand?
No. WorkSafe says it is not mandatory. The legal requirement is that equipment is electrically safe and maintained that way. A current AS/NZS 3760 tag is one way equipment is deemed safe under regulation 26.
How often do appliances need testing?
It depends on the equipment and the environment. Construction site tools need testing much more often than office equipment. We set intervals per item.
Does the tester need to be an electrician?
No, but they must understand the standards. Only a registered electrical worker can fix what the testing finds, which is why we use licensed electricians.
Do landlords need to test and tag?
Under regulation 26, appliances supplied with a rental are deemed safe if they have a current tag, or if they are supplied through an RCD-protected circuit or portable RCD. Either route works.
What happens if something fails?
It is labelled, removed from use and repaired or replaced. The register records the failure and the outcome.
Can you test our EV charging cable?
Test and tag is not the right check for EV equipment. WorkSafe warns that AS/NZS 3760 tags give no assurance of EV charger safety.
Test and Tag Near You
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