Product Quality & Testing Policy
Every item is tested before it reaches your door, not after.
This page sets out, in specific and verifiable detail, exactly what happens to every extension lead, armoured cable, electrical component and sofa we sell before it leaves us — what we test, against which British, European and international standards, and how we track it back to source.
Nothing leaves us untested. That is not a slogan — it's our process.
We started this business solving a specific problem — getting safe, permanent electrical power to a garden — and that meant we could never treat testing as optional. An extension lead sold with a hidden fault does not just disappoint a customer; it puts a home at risk. That standard now runs across everything we sell.
This page explains exactly what we check, at what stage, against which standards, and how we would handle it if something did go wrong. We would rather be specific and accountable than vague and reassuring.
This policy applies alongside our Product Liability & Safety Disclaimer, which explains how to use, install and maintain a product safely once it's in your hands. This page is about what happens before it gets there.
Outdoor Extension Leads and Armoured Outdoor Extension Leads are made to order rather than pulled from a shelf of pre-built stock. That has a direct quality benefit: every lead is assembled specifically for your order, then tested as a finished, individual item — not sample-checked as part of a mass-produced batch.
Every single Outdoor Extension Lead and Armoured Outdoor Extension Lead we dispatch has passed the full electrical test sequence described in Section 03 as an individual unit. No lead is packed and shipped without this check being completed and recorded against that order.
Nine checks, every lead, every time. This is the sequence a standard or armoured outdoor extension lead goes through between assembly and dispatch.
Every lead is PAT tested to the standards set out in the IET Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment before it leaves us, confirming it is safe to plug in and use as supplied.
We measure the resistance between conductors and earth to confirm the cable insulation is intact along its full length, with no weak points that could allow current to leak or arc.
Live, neutral and earth are checked at every plug and socket to confirm they are wired correctly and continuous end to end, with no reversed or interrupted conductors.
Each lead is tested under load at its stated current rating to confirm it performs safely at the amperage printed on the product, without excessive heat build-up at plugs, sockets or joints.
Every finished lead is visually checked end to end for defects in moulding, wiring or assembly before it is passed as fit to ship.
Plugs, sockets, cable and connectors used in assembly are sourced from manufacturers holding the relevant British and European product certification for that component — see Section 09 for the specific standards involved.
The full length of the outer jacket is checked for cuts, thin spots, moulding defects or discolouration that could compromise its weatherproofing before the lead is passed.
Contacts are inspected and tested to confirm a clean, secure connection, with no corrosion, pitting or looseness that could cause a poor connection or heat build-up in use.
Where the product is earthed, we confirm a low-resistance, continuous earth path from the incoming plug to every outgoing socket — a core part of the PAT test sequence and a critical protection against electric shock.
Armoured Outdoor Extension Leads are built around steel-wire-armoured (SWA) cable for permanent, all-weather outdoor power, so they go through the nine checks in Section 03 plus four additional checks specific to the armouring itself.
Armour integrity inspection
The steel-wire armour layer is inspected along its length to confirm it is intact, evenly laid and free from breaks or corrosion before assembly is completed.
Armouring properly terminated
Armour terminations are checked to confirm the armour is correctly earthed and mechanically secured at the gland, in line with BS 6121 requirements for mechanical cable glands.
Impact resistance verified
Finished armoured leads are checked to confirm the armour layer provides the mechanical protection expected of SWA cable against knocks and impacts during normal outdoor use.
Crush-resistance tested, where relevant to specification
Where a specific armoured product is rated for crush resistance — for example, for use where a cable may be walked or driven over — that rating is checked against the manufacturer's specification for that item before dispatch.
Our Electrical Supplies range — BG outdoor IP66 sockets, SWA armoured cable glands, IP66 junction boxes, 13A plugs and cable glands — is bought from manufacturers, not assembled in-house, so our quality role here is verification: confirming each product carries the correct certification for what it claims to be before we list it.
| Component | What we verify |
|---|---|
| Outdoor IP66 sockets | IP rating independently tested to BS EN 60529, and general socket safety to BS 1363-2. |
| SWA armoured cable glands | Mechanical performance to BS 6121, correct sizing for the cable and armour they're specified against. |
| IP66 junction boxes | Ingress protection tested to BS EN 60529 and general enclosure safety requirements under the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016. |
| 13A plugs | Full compliance with BS 1363-1 and the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994, including correctly rated fuses. |
| Cable glands (general) | Mechanical and ingress-protection performance appropriate to the gland type and the cable it is rated for. |
Where a component's packaging or listing states UKCA or CE marking, that marking has been checked against the manufacturer's declaration of conformity before the product was listed for sale.
Sofas go through a different checklist, built around fire safety, frame integrity and finish quality rather than electrical testing.
Fillings and covers meet the ignition-source testing set out in BS 5852 and the Furniture and Furnishings (Fire) (Safety) Regulations 1988, as amended, confirming resistance to a smouldering cigarette and a match-flame equivalent source.
Frames are checked for square, stable joints and even weight-bearing before a sofa is passed as fit to ship.
Stitched seams under load-bearing areas — arms, back rests and seat edges — are checked for consistent, secure stitching with no weak or skipped stitches.
Timber and metal frame components are inspected for cracks, splits or damage sustained in manufacture or transit before a sofa is released for sale.
Cushions are checked for even fill, correct firmness and no compression damage from packing or storage before dispatch.
Fabric, velvet and chenille covers are inspected for tears, snags, marking and colour consistency across panels before the sofa is passed.
Removable cover zips and any other closures are operated to confirm they run smoothly and fasten securely before dispatch.
Where legs or feet are pre-fitted, fixings are checked for tightness; where a sofa is supplied for self-assembly, fixing hardware is checked for completeness before packing.
Test records exist for every order, and B2B customers can ask to see them.
Electrical testing described in Sections 03 and 04 is carried out in-house against our documented test procedure, using calibrated test equipment. Component certification described in Section 05 is verified against manufacturer declarations of conformity and, where issued, third-party laboratory test certificates supplied by our component manufacturers.
Trade and business customers purchasing for resale, hire or commercial installation can request a copy of the test summary for their order, and, where relevant, the manufacturer's certification for the cable and components used, by emailing info@outdoorextensionleads.co.uk with the order number. Please allow up to five business days for us to compile and send this documentation.
Every finished lead is tested individually rather than sample-tested as a batch, because each one is made to order. Component batches from our suppliers are tracked as described in Section 11, so that any issue identified after dispatch can be traced back to the specific batch of components involved.
Testing happens as a fixed stage in our fulfilment process, not as an occasional spot-check.
Cable, plugs, sockets and, where applicable, armour are assembled to order against your specific product selection.
Every unit goes through the full test sequence for its product type before it is passed as fit to ship — no lead is tested as part of a sample batch.
Any item that does not pass every check is rejected at this stage, reworked or scrapped, and is not shipped to a customer under any circumstances.
Only items that have passed the full sequence are packed and handed to our courier, in line with the delivery timescales in our Shipping Policy.
We would rather tell you honestly that our failure rate at final test and the average testing time per item vary by product type and are reviewed internally, than publish a single number that oversimplifies a genuinely variable process. If you are a trade or B2B customer and this data matters to your own due diligence, contact us and we will share what we can for your specific product line.
Every test described on this page is carried out against a named British (BS), European (EN) or International (IEC) standard, not an internal or informal benchmark.
The UK national standard for the safety of electrical installations, referenced throughout our lead assembly and testing procedure.
Cable used in our leads is BASEC approved — independently tested and certified by the British Approvals Service for Cables against the relevant British and harmonised European cable standards.
Covers 13A plugs, socket-outlets and adaptors used throughout our extension lead range.
The international/European standard defining IP (Ingress Protection) ratings, against which our weatherproof and IP66 products are independently rated.
Cover armoured cables for electricity supply, including the fire-resistant armoured cable specification relevant to our Armoured Outdoor Extension Leads.
Covers mechanical cable glands, referenced in our armour termination checks in Section 04.
Cover flexible cable construction and performance, relevant to the flex-cable Outdoor Extension Lead range.
The recognised UK code of practice underpinning our PAT testing procedure described in Section 03.
Sets the ignition-source testing method for upholstered furniture fillings and covers, applied to every sofa we sell.
The legal framework requiring the fire-safety testing and labelling applied to our sofa range.
Where independent testing sits in our process.
In-house electrical testing described in Sections 02–04 is carried out by us on every finished unit. Alongside this, the cable, plugs, sockets and armoured components we build with carry independent third-party certification from their manufacturers — BASEC certification on our cable, and UKCA/CE conformity assessment on components — which we verify before listing a product, as described in Sections 05 and 09.
We keep manufacturer test certificates and declarations of conformity on file for the components we use, and can share the relevant certificate for a specific product with trade and B2B customers on request — see Section 07. If we hold or obtain a formal management-system certification such as ISO 9001, or undergo a specific external quality audit, we will name it here and provide the certificate number; we do not want to make a certification claim on this page that we cannot immediately evidence if asked.
Verified sourcing
Cable, plugs, sockets, glands and armour components are bought from named, established manufacturers who supply their own test certification and declaration of conformity for each product line before we accept a supply relationship.
Supplier certification requirements
Suppliers of electrical components are required to hold and provide the applicable UKCA/CE conformity documentation and, for cable, BASEC or equivalent independent certification, before their components are used in any product we sell.
Batch tracking for recall purposes
Incoming component deliveries are logged against their supplier batch or lot reference. If a component manufacturer issues a safety notice or recall against a specific batch, we can identify which orders may have used that batch and contact affected customers directly.
Our testing process is designed to stop a faulty product ever reaching you. If, despite that, something does go wrong, your legal rights apply in full regardless of anything on this page.
Consumer Rights Act 2015
Goods must be of satisfactory quality, fit for purpose and as described. If a product fails this standard despite our testing, you have a short-term right to reject faulty goods for a full refund within 30 days of delivery, and repair, replacement or a partial refund thereafter.
General Product Safety Regulations
We are under a continuing legal duty to place only safe products on the market. Our testing process exists to meet that duty proactively, and we will act on any safety concern raised after a product has been sold.
How this interacts with our other policies
This Product Quality & Testing Policy works alongside our Product Liability & Safety Disclaimer, Return & Refund Policy and Terms of Service. Nothing on this page reduces any right or remedy those policies or the law already give you — see our Return & Refund Policy for how to raise an issue with an order.
- Trading as
- OUTDOOR EXTENSION LEADS
- Registered as
- INDOOR & OUTDOOR FURNISHINGS LTD
- Company No.
- 16845629 (England & Wales)
- Registered office
- 3rd Floor, 86-90 Paul Street, London, England, EC2A 4NE, United Kingdom
This page should be read alongside our other legal terms:
Terms of Service
Legal Notice
Privacy Policy
Return & Refund Policy
Shipping Policy
About Us
Want a test report, a certificate, or just have a question about how we test? We answer within one business day.
Support hours (Greenwich Mean Time, London):
- Monday – Friday09:00 – 17:00
- Saturday10:00 – 16:00
- SundayClosed
Last updated / effective: 3 September 2026.