Help and information
Frequently Asked Questions
Start with the general questions, then browse straightforward answers for each individual service.
General FAQs
General questions
Useful information about HPM Compliance, commercial work, reporting and quotations.
Which services are available now?
PAT testing, fire damper testing, kitchen extract and duct cleaning, high-level compliance cleaning, ladder inspections and Legionella support are all available.
Do you provide reports after the work?
Where included in the agreed scope, documentation can include findings, photographs, asset records and practical recommendations.
Do you work with commercial and multi-site clients?
Yes. HPM Compliance is focused on commercial clients, facilities teams, property managers and recurring multi-site work.
Which areas do you cover?
The main focus is South Yorkshire, including Rotherham, Sheffield, Doncaster, Barnsley, Mexborough, Swinton and Wath-upon-Dearne. Wider work can be considered individually.
Can work be arranged around site operations?
Yes where practical. Access, operating hours and site constraints can be discussed when the job is scoped.
How do I request a quote?
Call HPM Compliance on 07730 793187 or use the enquiry form on the contact page.
Browse by service
Find answers for the service you need.
Each section uses the same expandable questions shown on the individual service pages.
PAT Testing
Testing, intervals, appliances and reports.
Fire Damper Testing
Inspections, access, testing and records.
Kitchen Extract Cleaning
Cleaning scope, access, photos and frequency.
High-Level Cleaning
Areas, access methods, timing and records.
Ladder Inspections
Checks, inspection intervals and outcomes.
Legionella Support
Monitoring, records, sampling and escalation.
PAT Testing FAQs
Common questions about PAT testing
Answers about electrical equipment inspection, testing intervals, asset records and failed items.
Is PAT testing a legal requirement?
There is no UK law that simply states every portable appliance must receive a PAT test every year. However, employers and dutyholders have duties to maintain electrical equipment so that it remains safe. Inspection and testing are commonly used as part of demonstrating that electrical equipment is being maintained appropriately.
Does everything need testing every year?
No. Test and inspection intervals should be proportionate to risk. Equipment type, location, frequency of use, movement, user behaviour and previous results can all affect how often inspection or testing is appropriate.
What is the difference between a visual inspection and an electrical test?
A visual inspection looks for issues such as damaged plugs, loose parts, split cables, exposed conductors, heat damage or unsuitable repairs. Electrical testing uses suitable test equipment to check relevant safety characteristics of the appliance. The exact tests depend on the equipment and its electrical class.
What appliances can be included?
Common plug-connected and movable workplace equipment can normally be included within the agreed service. Examples include IT equipment, kitchen appliances, extension leads, cleaning machines, chargers and portable tools. Fixed or specialised equipment may require a different approach and should be identified when the work is agreed.
What happens if an appliance fails?
The failed result is recorded and the item identified so the responsible person can take the appropriate action, such as repair, replacement or removal from service. A failed test does not itself repair or make the appliance safe.
Do you provide a PAT testing report?
Yes. The service includes digital asset records showing the appliance identification, result, test date and relevant observations, giving the customer a clear record of the inspection and testing completed.
Can PAT testing be arranged for multiple sites?
Yes. We can structure PAT testing for commercial and multi-site customers so records and repeat visits are organised by site rather than treated as isolated one-off jobs.
Can you arrange repeat PAT testing?
Yes. Where ongoing inspection or testing is appropriate, repeat visits can be planned around the agreed risk-based interval so the customer has a consistent maintenance programme.
Fire Damper Testing FAQs
Common questions about fire damper testing
Answers about access, functional checks, inspection frequency, reporting and failed dampers.
What is a fire damper?
A fire damper is installed in ventilation ductwork where the duct passes through fire-resisting construction. It is designed to close when required to help maintain the fire separation between different parts of the building.
What do you check during a fire damper inspection?
The inspection can include identification and location, access condition, visual condition, obvious obstruction or contamination, functional operation where appropriate, photographs and a recorded result.
Does every fire damper need to be accessible?
Suitable access is important because the damper and its operating mechanism need to be available for inspection, testing and maintenance. If adequate safe access is not available, the limitation should be recorded and appropriate access may need to be provided.
How often should fire dampers be tested?
The correct interval depends on the applicable current guidance, damper type, manufacturer information, building fire strategy and site conditions. Some environments or damper arrangements can justify more frequent testing, so the programme should reflect the actual building rather than rely on a generic assumption.
What happens if a fire damper fails?
The failed or action-required result is recorded along with the relevant observations and photographs. The responsible person can then arrange repair, specialist investigation or replacement as appropriate. The inspection itself does not automatically constitute remedial work.
Do you provide photographs and a report?
Yes. The testing record can include damper identification and location, photographs, findings, test outcome and identified follow-up actions so the client has a usable record for their building files.
Can you test fire dampers across multiple sites?
Yes. Testing can be organised for multi-site customers using consistent asset and location records, making future inspections and reporting easier to manage across an estate.
Can fire damper testing be carried out outside normal working hours?
Where access and site arrangements allow, appointment times can be planned around occupied buildings and operational requirements. This can be particularly useful for schools, care settings, hospitality and busy commercial premises.
Kitchen Extract FAQs
Common questions about kitchen extract cleaning
Answers about system coverage, access, photographic evidence, cleaning frequency and repeat visits.
What parts of the extraction system do you clean?
A typical job can include the canopy, plenum, filters, accessible ductwork and accessible fan components. The exact areas depend on the system design and the access available.
Do you clean the full length of the ductwork?
Where suitable access is available, the aim is to clean the accessible extract route rather than only the visible canopy. If part of the system cannot be safely reached, we will identify that in the records and discuss the options with the client.
Do you provide before and after photographs?
Yes. Photographic evidence can be included within the post-clean records so you have a clear record of representative areas before and after cleaning.
How often should a kitchen extract system be cleaned?
The appropriate interval depends on how heavily the kitchen is used, cooking methods, operating hours, grease production and the previous condition of the system. We can use the condition found during visits to help plan sensible repeat cleaning.
Can you work outside normal kitchen hours?
Commercial kitchen cleaning is often easier to organise when food preparation has stopped. Appointment timing can be discussed around the needs of the site and the work required.
Can you provide recurring kitchen extract cleaning visits?
Yes. Recurring visits can be arranged for restaurants, care settings, schools and other commercial kitchens that want a planned maintenance programme and consistent records.
High-Level Cleaning FAQs
Common questions about high-level cleaning
Answers about cleaning scope, premises, access equipment, photographs and appointment planning.
What is included in high-level compliance cleaning?
The agreed service can cover dust, debris and contamination on accessible high-level surfaces such as beams, ledges, pipework, duct exteriors, roof structures and other difficult-to-reach areas. The exact scope and access method are confirmed before work begins.
Which types of premises can you work in?
High-level cleaning can be arranged for warehouses, factories, schools, leisure facilities, commercial kitchens, retail units and other managed properties where elevated surfaces need planned cleaning.
How do you decide which access equipment is needed?
The height, layout, surface condition, nearby operations and site restrictions are reviewed when the work is scoped. The access method is then selected to suit the task and working environment.
Can you provide photographs after the work?
Yes. Where included in the agreed scope, representative before-and-after photographs can be supplied to support site records and show the areas completed.
Can high-level cleaning be completed outside normal working hours?
Where practical, appointments can be arranged around production, customers and normal site operations. Access requirements and timing are agreed during quotation.
Can recurring high-level cleaning be arranged?
Yes. One-off and planned repeat visits can be arranged, with the frequency based on the building, activity levels and the rate at which dust or contamination returns.
Ladder Inspection FAQs
Common questions about workplace ladder inspections
Answers about pre-use checks, recorded inspections, equipment types, defects and inspection records.
How often should workplace ladders be inspected?
There is no single interval suitable for every ladder. The schedule should reflect the manufacturer’s instructions, frequency of use, working environment, previous findings and the employer’s risk assessment. Equipment exposed to harsher conditions or frequent use may need checking more often.
Are pre-use checks the same as a recorded ladder inspection?
No. A pre-use check is completed by the user before use to identify obvious defects. A detailed visual inspection is completed at suitable intervals and recorded, providing a condition history for the employer.
What types of ladder can be included?
The agreed inspection list can include common portable leaning ladders, stepladders, extension ladders and other workplace ladder types. Specialist access equipment may require a different inspection approach, which should be identified when arranging the work.
What defects do you look for?
Checks can cover damaged or worn feet, bent or twisted stiles, cracked or loose rungs, damaged hinges or locking mechanisms, missing components, corrosion, contamination, damaged fixings and unsuitable repairs.
What happens if a ladder fails inspection?
The defect and inspection outcome are recorded. The ladder should be clearly identified and removed from use until the responsible person decides whether it should be appropriately repaired or replaced.
Do inspections include ladder repairs?
No. Inspection and reporting do not automatically include repairs. Any repair or replacement requirement is recorded so the responsible person can arrange the appropriate action.
Will each ladder have an individual record?
Yes. The agreed report can identify each ladder by asset number or location and record its type, inspection date, condition, outcome and relevant observations.
Can you inspect ladders across multiple sites?
Yes. Inspections can be organised by site and asset number, helping customers maintain consistent records and recurring schedules across several properties.
Legionella Support FAQs
Common questions about Legionella support
Answers about routine monitoring, risk assessments, records, sampling and out-of-range findings.
What Legionella support do you provide?
Support can include routine temperature monitoring, defined flushing tasks, site-specific recurring checks, record keeping, water sampling where specifically included, and clear escalation of out-of-range findings.
Is routine monitoring the same as a Legionella risk assessment?
No. Routine monitoring follows an agreed schedule or written control scheme. It is not presented as a Legionella risk assessment unless a risk assessment has specifically been included within the agreed scope.
How often should water hygiene checks be completed?
The correct frequency depends on the water system, the risks identified and the site’s written control scheme. We confirm the agreed tasks and schedule before work begins rather than applying one interval to every property.
Do you provide records of the checks?
Yes. The agreed records can show the outlets or assets checked, dates, readings, completed tasks and any findings that need to be escalated.
Do routine visits always include water sampling?
No. Sampling is a separate activity and is only included where it forms part of the agreed scope. The quotation makes clear whether sampling is required and included.
What happens if a reading is outside the required range?
The result is recorded and highlighted so the responsible person can follow the site’s control scheme and arrange any further assessment, investigation or corrective action required.
Still have a question?
Tell us about your site and the service you need. We will confirm the scope and provide a clear quotation.
Contact HPM Compliance