PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Steam-heated platen examination under PSSR

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

A steam-heated platen looks like a solid steel plate, but it is hollow, with steam driven through passages drilled inside it to heat the face that presses and cures the work. Those passages carry the pressure, hidden from view, which is exactly why PSSR puts the platen on a written scheme.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Hidden passagesSteam runs through bores inside the plate
Written schemeExamined to a certified written scheme of examination
Certified reportA written report of examination, within 28 days
Pressed and heatedThe plate that laminates, moulds and cures under load
Pressure equipment we examine

Why your steam-heated platen needs PSSR examination

A steam-heated platen is the heated plate in a press, used to laminate board, mould rubber, fuse fabric and cure composites. Steam is circulated through passages bored inside the plate so the working face reaches an even temperature, and it is those internal passages, the pressure boundary you cannot see from outside, that carry the risk.

Because the platen 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 concentrates on the internal passages and the integrity of the plate, the relief valve and the steam connections, and the safe working pressure, then reports on condition. We examine it independently of whoever supplies or runs the press.

Plate and faces
Internal steam passages
Relief valve
Steam connections
Pressure gauge
Condensate route
Plate distortion
Nameplate and SWP
How it works

How we examine your steam-heated platen

A competent engineer surveyor examines the plate and its internal passages for the corrosion, erosion and thinning that wear them from the inside, and the faces for the distortion that affects both safety and product. The relief valve is tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the steam connections and condensate route are checked, and the safe working pressure is confirmed.

  • 1

    Get in touch

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

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent engineer surveyor examines the plate and passages 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 platen, we do not supply or service the press
  • Competent engineer surveyors used to steam-heated process plant and PSSR
  • The internal passages and the plate examined, not just the surface
  • Certified reports issued promptly, the next examination date flagged
What we examine

Steam-heated platen: what a thorough examination covers

Internal steam passages

The bored passages inside the plate examined for corrosion, erosion and scale, the pressure boundary that no surface inspection can reach and that thins out of sight.

Plate integrity

The plate and its welds examined for cracking and thinning around the passages, the steel that has to hold both the steam and the press load.

Relief valve

The relief valve tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the protection against over-pressure on a closed, heated plate.

Plate distortion

The working faces checked for distortion and bowing, which spoils the product and signals uneven heating or internal damage, so a platen that no longer presses flat is examined for the cause rather than simply skimmed and put back to work.

Steam connections and condensate

The steam inlet, outlet and condensate route checked for condition and security, where the steam enters and leaves the plate.

Scale and safe working pressure

The internal surfaces checked for scale that drives hot spots, and the marked safe working pressure confirmed so the platen is run within its limits.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

A steam-heated platen 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 plate and the steam it carries. After each examination you receive a written report on the condition of the platen 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 platen 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 platen examination: common questions

Does a steam-heated platen need a PSSR examination?
Yes. The platen holds steam in its internal passages 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 platen is used, and the examination produces a certified written report. Our guide to PSSR explains the scheme and what it must contain.
It looks like a solid plate, where is the pressure?
Inside it. The plate is bored with passages that carry steam to heat the face, and those passages are a sealed pressure space. You cannot see them, which is why a competent examination of the internal condition matters rather than a look at the surface.
What goes wrong with a steam platen?
The internal passages corrode and erode and the plate can distort. Wastage inside the passages thins the pressure boundary out of sight, while distortion of the faces spoils the product and can signal internal damage, so both are central to the examination.
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 how hard the platen is worked and the steam conditions it sees, and reviews it again if the duty changes or a defect is found.
Is it covered by PSSR or PUWER?
PSSR, because the platen is a steam pressure system. The press is still work equipment to be maintained under PUWER, but a PUWER inspection does not replace the PSSR examination of the heated platen.
Who is competent to examine it?
A competent person with the training, skills, experience and knowledge for steam-heated plant, independent of its operation. Our engineer surveyors examine heated platens and report to the written scheme.
Do you examine steam-heated platens across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to laminating, moulding and pressing plants nationwide and work around your production. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.

Is your steam-heated platen 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