Patnik wrote: Yes agreed but I think it's an acceptable compromise, particularly as loads of people are performing earth continuity tests with the increasingly popular low current only test equipment which won't stress test any earth connection however long the test is run for.
If you look at the CoP section 15.4 "Hard Test" states the duration should be 5 to 20 seconds at 1.5 times the equipment rating, but not exceeding 26A.....
"Soft Test" as above but with current between 20mA to 200mA.
So a longer than 5 second test is required.
I have successfully tested an 8 way extension lead which is 8 x 5 second bursts with no more than 10 seconds between each. That is 1/3 duty cycle for 120 seconds total without even a hint of overheating at 25A.