What is test and tag?
Test and tag is the inspection and electrical testing of portable appliances — things like power leads, power boards, tools, computers and kitchen appliances. A technician uses a Portable Appliance Tester (PAT) to check insulation resistance, earth continuity, leakage current and polarity, alongside a visual inspection for damage. Each item that passes gets a tag showing the test date and when it's next due. For the full picture, see our guide to what test and tag actually involves.
What test and tag does not check is your building's wiring, switchboard, or safety switches — it's entirely focused on the appliance itself.
What is an RCD, and what does RCD testing check?
An RCD (residual current device) — commonly called a safety switch — is a device that monitors the electrical current flowing through a circuit and cuts the power almost instantly if it detects a leak, such as current flowing through a person during an electric shock. RCDs exist in two forms:
- Fixed RCDs installed inside your switchboard, protecting entire circuits.
- Portable RCDs — the plug-in type, often built into a power board or carried separately with tools on site.
RCD testing checks that the device actually trips within the required time when a fault is simulated, using a push-button test and a timed trip test. If test and tag is about whether the appliance itself is safe, RCD testing is the last line of defence — the backup that protects a worker if something goes wrong while the appliance is in use.
Key differences at a glance
| Test and Tag | RCD Testing | |
|---|---|---|
| What it checks | Individual appliances and leads | Safety switches that cut power on a fault |
| Method | PAT tester + visual inspection | Push-button test + trip-time test |
| Standard (portable) | AS/NZS 3760 | AS/NZS 3760 (portable RCDs) |
| Typical interval | 3 months to 5 years, by environment | Every 12 months for portable RCDs |
| Who can do it | Competent test and tag technician | Portable: technician. Fixed/switchboard: licensed electrician |
Portable RCDs vs fixed switchboard RCDs
This is the distinction that trips people up. Portable RCDs — the kind you plug a lead into, common on construction sites and in workshops — are tested under AS/NZS 3760, the same standard that governs test and tag, and are commonly checked in the same visit as your appliances. SydTag includes portable RCD testing as part of a standard visit.
Fixed RCDs built into your switchboard are a different matter entirely. Testing these requires a licensed electrician, as it involves working on fixed wiring rather than portable equipment. If you're not sure when your switchboard RCDs were last tested, that's a good question to raise with your electrical contractor separately from your test and tag booking.
Do you need both?
For most commercial premises, yes. They protect against different failure points — a well-tagged appliance with a hidden internal fault is still dangerous if the RCD backing it up hasn't been tested and doesn't trip in time. Construction sites in particular are required to have both portable equipment and portable RCDs tested at intervals not exceeding three months under the WHS Regulation, which calls up AS/NZS 3012 for construction and demolition sites.
Not sure what's already covered at your site? Get in touch and we'll help you work out what you need.
FAQ
Does SydTag test RCDs?
Yes — SydTag tests portable RCDs (the plug-in type used with tools and leads) as part of a standard test and tag visit. Fixed RCDs built into your switchboard require testing by a licensed electrician, which is a separate service.
Do I need both test and tag and RCD testing?
Most commercial premises need both. Test and tag covers your portable appliances and leads; RCD testing covers the safety switches that cut power during a fault. Neither one substitutes for the other.