PSSR Inspections

Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000

We have engineers competent to produce Written Schemes of Examination, and a Chartered Engineer to certify them, to ensure compliance with the regulations.

The regulations apply to users and owners of systems containing ‘relevant fluids’. Relevant fluids include steam, gases under pressure and fluids that are artificially kept under pressure and become gases upon release into the atmosphere.

They require the whole system to be inspected in accordance with its ‘Written Scheme of Examination’ which must be drawn up by a competent person and certified by a Chartered Engineer.

A Written Scheme of Examination is drawn up following a risk assessment of the system. It must:

• Clearly define the extent of, and items of plant included in, the pressure system.
• Detail the inspection frequency of relevant parts if the system.

Pressure System: a system comprising one or more rigid pressure vessels with associated pipe-work and protective devices.

Written Scheme of Examination: a document that identifies the extent of the pressure system and outlines the examination requirements.

In addition to the thorough examination, which involves the system being closed down and vessels opened up, a working examination is usually required. This involves testing the system under pressure and is sometimes more frequent than the thorough examination.