PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Steam-heated roller examination under PSSR

Independent examination of your steam-heated roller under a Written Scheme of Examination, by a competent person under PSSR.

A steam-heated roller is a pressure vessel that turns, taking steam in through a rotary joint at its shaft to heat the cylinder that irons, dries or calenders the work passing over it. It carries pressure, load and rotation all at once, which is why PSSR puts it on a written scheme.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
It rotatesA pressure vessel that turns under load
Rotary jointSteam enters and condensate leaves at the shaft
Written schemeExamined to a certified written scheme of examination
Certified reportA written report of examination, within 28 days
Pressure equipment we examine

Why your steam-heated roller needs PSSR examination

A steam-heated roller, the heated cylinder in a laundry ironer, a paper or textile dryer or a calender, is heated from inside by steam fed through a rotary joint on its shaft, with a siphon drawing the condensate back out as the roll turns. It is a pressure vessel that rotates, so it carries the internal pressure, the load of the nip and the stresses of rotation together.

Because the roll holds steam it is a pressure system under PSSR at any pressure, and Regulation 8 requires a written scheme of examination before it is used. The examination covers the shell and ends inside and out, the rotary joint and condensate route, the shaft journals, and the safe working pressure, then reports on condition. We examine it independently of whoever supplies or maintains the machine.

Roll shell
Roll ends and journals
Rotary steam joint
Condensate siphon
Relief valve
Pressure gauge
Bearings and supports
Nameplate and SWP
How it works

How we examine your steam-heated roller

A competent engineer surveyor examines the roll shell and ends inside and out for corrosion, thinning and the cracking that pressure and rotation bring, with the journals where the shaft meets the shell a particular concern. The rotary joint and condensate siphon are checked so steam enters and condensate leaves cleanly, the relief valve is tested, and the safe working pressure is confirmed.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us the roller, its steam pressure and duty, and whether a written scheme is already in place.

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent engineer surveyor examines the shell, ends and joint and tests the relief valve, to the scheme.

  • 3

    Your report

    You receive a written report of examination, any defects and timescales set out, within the statutory window.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • Independent and impartial: we examine the roller, we do not supply or service the machine
  • Competent engineer surveyors used to rotating steam plant and PSSR
  • The shell, ends and joint examined, not just the running surface
  • Certified reports issued promptly, the next examination date flagged
What we examine

Steam-heated roller: what a thorough examination covers

Roll shell

The cylindrical shell examined inside and out for corrosion, thinning and the fatigue cracking that come from holding pressure while it turns under the load of the nip, a slow wear that a static vessel never has to take.

Roll ends and journals

The ends and the journals where the shaft carries the shell, examined for cracking, the highly stressed joints that a rotating pressure vessel depends on.

Rotary steam joint

The rotary joint that feeds steam in and lets condensate out as the roll turns, checked for wear and leakage, the one fitting unique to a heated roll.

Condensate siphon

The siphon that lifts condensate out of the turning roll, checked so water does not pool inside, where it would heat the shell unevenly and distort it.

Relief valve

The relief valve tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the protection against over-pressure on the rotating vessel.

Bearings, supports and safe working pressure

The bearings and supports checked for condition, and the marked safe working pressure confirmed so the roll is run within its limits.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

A steam-heated roller is a pressure system under PSSR, so under Regulation 8 it must have a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, before it is used. It is examined to the intervals the scheme sets, on the duty and condition of the roll. After each examination you receive a written report on the condition of the roller and its relief valve, with any actions and timescales, issued within twenty-eight days.

Step oneA Written Scheme of Examination, certified before use
To schemeExamined to the intervals the scheme sets
28 daysA written report, issued within the statutory window
IndependentWe examine it, we do not supply it

You receive a report on the condition of the system and its safety devices, with any actions and timescales set out clearly.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full PSSR inspection service

Steam-heated roller is one of the many kinds of equipment we cover. We inspect the full range, across every sector, as an independent provider, one item or a whole site, anywhere in the UK.

See our full PSSR inspection service
Other services

Other statutory inspections we carry out

Many sites run more than one regime. We can examine all of it, under one independent provider.

LOLER inspectionThorough examination and certification of lifting equipment and accessories. PUWER inspectionInspection of work equipment against the five PUWER duties, with a written record. LEV testingLEV thorough examination and test of your extraction systems.
PSSR FAQs

Steam-heated roller examination: common questions

Does a steam-heated roller need a PSSR examination?
Yes. The roll holds steam and is a pressure system under PSSR at any pressure, so it must not be used without a written scheme of examination. You can read the duty in the HSE guidance on the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations.
Do I need a written scheme of examination, or a certificate?
A written scheme. Regulation 8 requires a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, before the roller is used, and the examination produces a certified written report. Our guide to PSSR explains the scheme and what it must contain.
What is different about examining a roller compared with a fixed vessel?
It rotates and it is heated through a rotary joint, so as well as the shell the examination looks hard at the ends and journals that carry the rotating load, the rotary joint that feeds the steam, and the siphon that removes condensate, none of which a static vessel has.
Why does condensate inside the roll matter?
Because if the siphon does not clear it, condensate pools in the bottom of the turning roll, insulates the shell from the steam and heats it unevenly, which distorts the roll and spoils the work. The examination checks the siphon and condensate route for that reason.
How often should it be examined?
To the intervals the written scheme sets, based on the duty and condition. The competent person sets and reviews the interval, taking account of the pressure, the load and how hard the roll is worked.
Is it covered by PSSR or PUWER?
PSSR, because the roll is a steam pressure system. The machine is still work equipment to be maintained under PUWER, but a PUWER inspection does not replace the PSSR examination of the heated roll.
Who is competent to examine it?
A competent person with the training, skills, experience and knowledge for rotating steam plant, independent of its operation. Our engineer surveyors examine heated rollers and report to the written scheme.
Do you examine steam-heated rollers across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to laundries, paper mills and textile and calendering plants nationwide and work around your production. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.

Is your steam-heated roller due an examination?

Talk to an engineer surveyor, get a quote and book your inspection anywhere in the UK.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote