Microwave Leakage Testing for Australian Workplaces
Microwave ovens in staff kitchens, wards, aged care kitchens and hospitality sites get hard use. Door seals wear, hinges loosen and interlocks age — and that can allow microwave energy to escape where people stand. Our microwave leakage testing service checks units on site, tags the result, and leaves you with clear digital records you can show auditors, insurers and facilities managers.
Call 1300 06 06 17 or book a visit.
What microwave leakage testing is
Microwave leakage testing is an on-site check of whether a microwave oven is containing energy under the test conditions. The technician inspects the door, seals, hinges, latch and interlocks, then measures leakage around the seals and openings with a microwave leakage detector while the oven is operating under a controlled test load.
A handheld meter reading is not the same as a documented workplace visit. For the practical difference, see microwave leakage tester vs professional testing.
It is related to, but not the same as, test and tag. Appliance testing under AS/NZS 3760 covers visual and electrical safety of portable equipment. Leakage testing looks at whether microwave energy is escaping past the door and seals. AS/NZS 3760 does not by itself require every workplace microwave to be leakage tested, and it does not certify AGE.
It is also not RCD (safety switch) testing or thermal imaging. Those services check residual current devices, and look for heat on switchboards and plant.
A pass means the measured leakage was within the limits used for that test, under the conditions of the visit, and the unit was tagged with the result. It does not mean the oven is permanently safe, and it does not mean zero leakage is required. A fail means the result is recorded and the unit should stay out of use until it is repaired or replaced and checked again. Repair and replacement are separate from this test.
What the visit does and does not do
What to send with the enquiry
Tell us the site, about how many microwaves you have, and the type of workplace. Say if you also want test and tag, RCD testing or thermal imaging quoted. Those are separate services.
A check under the test conditions
The visit inspects the door, seals, hinges, latch and interlocks, then measures leakage while the oven is operating. A result on the day is not a compliance certificate, and it does not certify AGE or the oven.
Not a guarantee of later performance
The check does not dismantle the oven. It does not find every fault, and it does not show that the oven will stay within limits after the visit.
Why workplaces need it
Under WHS laws, a person conducting a business or undertaking must manage risks to health and safety so far as is reasonably practicable. A staff-kitchen microwave is ordinary workplace equipment. This page does not state a rule that every microwave must be leakage tested on a fixed timetable.
A leakage check can show door, seal, latch or interlock wear on the day of the test. It does not replace test and tag, and test-and-tag intervals are not the interval for leakage testing.
Hospitals and clinics — ward kitchens, staff rooms and shared reheating areas.
Aged care — facility kitchens and resident or staff meal areas.
Hospitality — cafés, restaurants, hotels and commercial kitchens.
Offices — staff kitchens and kitchenettes.
Education, childcare and retail — canteens, staff rooms and food-court back-of-house.
Our Microwave Leakage Testing Procedure
Visual & seal check
Door seals, hinges, latches and interlocks inspected for wear or damage that can affect containment.
Leakage measurement
Calibrated microwave leakage detector used around seals and openings while the unit is operating.
On-the-spot tagging
Pass or fail is tagged on the unit with the test date. A fixed next test date is not added unless the site already uses one.
Digital reporting
The result is kept as a digital record, with the unit identified. The record is of the visit, not a compliance certificate.
What you receive
Reporting
A leakage check is only useful if the site can see what was tested. After the visit you get a digital record of the units checked that day. It is a record of the test, not a compliance certificate.
The record can include:
- Identification — the microwave, and the location or asset ID where that was captured
- Result — pass or fail, and notes from the day
- Visual findings — seal, hinge, latch or interlock issues seen on the day
- Leakage outcome — whether measured leakage was within the limits used for that test, under the test conditions
- Date — the date of the visit
If a unit fails, the result is recorded and the unit is identified. It should stay out of use. Repair or replacement is separate work. The unit can be checked again before it goes back into service. We do not set a fixed retest date. There is no single national interval for every workplace microwave, and test-and-tag intervals are not copied across.
We report the units and conditions checked on the day. We do not claim a whole-building radiation survey, a laboratory accreditation we do not hold, or a guarantee that the oven will perform the same later.
Leakage testing and test and tag
Microwave leakage measurement is not the same job as test and tag. Test and tag covers visual and electrical checks of portable appliances. Leakage testing measures microwave energy escaping while the oven is operating. An oven can sit on an appliance register and still need this separate check.
How often portable appliances are tested and tagged is a separate question. The guide on how often a workplace should be tested and tagged is about that program. It does not set a microwave leakage interval.
Some sites also ask for RCD testing or thermal imaging at the same attendance. That is scoped when you enquire. It is not automatic. The oven being tested is in use for the measurement, so the visit needs a time when that unit can be checked.
Who it’s for
The service is for Australian workplaces with shared or commercial microwave ovens, including staff kitchens, aged care and hospitality kitchens, canteens and similar sites. This is the national service page, not a city page.
For how leakage testing sits in a workplace program, see microwave leakage testing for workplaces.
When you request a quote, tell us the site, about how many microwaves you have, and the type of workplace.
Workplaces we test
Industries We Serve with Microwave Leakage Testing
Shared and commercial microwave ovens can be included in a leakage-testing visit. The result is a record of how the oven behaved under the test conditions. It is not a health certificate, and it is not a radiation survey of the building.
- Hospitality Sector – Restaurants, cafés, hotels, and commercial kitchen facilities
- Office Environments – Staff break rooms, employee lunch areas, and workplace kitchenettes
- Healthcare Facilities – Hospital wards, aged care facility kitchens, and medical centre staff rooms
- Childcare & Education – School canteens, childcare centres, university cafeterias, and educational institutions
- Retail & Convenience – Food courts, service stations, grocery stores, and retail food service areas
Book your microwave leakage testing visit
Tell us the site, about how many microwaves there are, and the type of workplace. Call 1300 06 06 17 or use the button above. If a unit fails, the result is recorded and the unit is identified. Repair or replacement is separate work.
