PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Abrasive blast pot examination under PSSR

Independent examination of your abrasive blast pot under a Written Scheme of Examination, by a competent person under PSSR.

An abrasive blast pot holds grit or shot under compressed air and fires it out to strip steel back to bright metal, and the same abrasive churning inside scours the vessel from within. That internal wear is quick, which is why a blast pot is a pressure vessel examined more often than most.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Worn from insideThe abrasive scours the vessel as it works
Examined more oftenRapid internal wear means shorter intervals
Written schemeExamined to a certified written scheme of examination
Certified reportA written report of examination, within 28 days
Pressure equipment we examine

Why your abrasive blast pot needs PSSR examination

An abrasive blast pot is a pressure vessel filled with abrasive media and pressurised with compressed air, which drives the abrasive down to a metering valve and out through a hose and nozzle to clean and prepare steel. Unlike most vessels, the danger to it comes from the inside: the abrasive scours the shell and the cone as it works, thinning the metal far faster than corrosion alone would.

Because it holds compressed air above the threshold the pot is a pressure system under PSSR, and Regulation 8 requires a written scheme of examination before it is used. The examination concentrates on the internal wear, the closure and filling head, and the relief valve, and because the wear is rapid the scheme commonly sets a shorter interval than for a quiet vessel. We examine it independently and report on condition.

Shell and internal wear
Conical bottom
Filling head and closure
Relief valve
Pressure gauge
Metering and outlet
Air inlet
Nameplate and SWP
How it works

How we examine your abrasive blast pot

A competent engineer surveyor examines the shell and the conical bottom from the inside, where the abrasive scours the metal, measuring the thinning that an external look cannot. The filling head and closure that seal the pot under pressure are checked, the relief valve is tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the gauge is checked, and the metering and outlet are examined.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us the blast pot, its working pressure and how hard it is used, and whether a scheme is in place.

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent engineer surveyor examines the shell and cone inside 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 pot, we do not supply or service it
  • Competent engineer surveyors used to blast plant and PSSR
  • Internal wear measured from inside, not estimated from the outside
  • Certified reports issued promptly, the next examination date flagged
What we examine

Abrasive blast pot: what a thorough examination covers

Internal wear

The inside of the shell examined and the thinning measured, because the abrasive scours the metal from within and a pot can be worn dangerously thin while it looks sound outside.

Conical bottom

The cone that funnels the abrasive to the metering valve, checked for the heavy wear it takes where the media is fastest and most concentrated.

Filling head and closure

The filling head and closure that seal the pot under pressure, checked for condition and sealing, the part handled at every fill.

Relief valve

The relief valve tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the protection against over-pressure on a vessel that is steadily being worn thinner.

Metering and outlet

The metering valve and outlet checked for condition and security, where the pressurised abrasive leaves the pot under load.

Nameplate and safe working pressure

The marked safe working pressure confirmed, so the pot is run within limits that its worn condition can still safely hold.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

An abrasive blast pot holds compressed air above the threshold and 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. Because the abrasive wears the vessel quickly, shot blast vessels are commonly examined on a shorter interval, around every two years or less, in line with industry guidance such as SAFed PSG 01. After each examination you receive a written report on the condition of the pot, 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.

The price follows your equipment, not a rate card: see what drives a PSSR examination quote.

Full statutory cover

Part of our full PSSR inspection service

Abrasive blast pot 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

Abrasive blast pot examination: common questions

Does an abrasive blast pot need a PSSR examination?
Yes. The pot holds compressed air above the threshold to drive the abrasive, so it is a pressure system under PSSR and 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 pot is used, and the examination produces a certified written report. Our guide to PSSR explains the scheme and what it must contain.
Why does a blast pot need examining more often than other vessels?
Because the abrasive wears it out from the inside. The grit or shot scours the shell and the cone as it works, thinning the metal far faster than corrosion would, so the scheme commonly sets a shorter interval to catch that wear before it becomes dangerous.
Can you tell how worn the pot is without opening it?
Not properly. The wear is on the inside, so the examination looks at the internal surfaces and measures the remaining thickness, which a look at the outside cannot show. That internal examination is the point of the exercise on a blast pot.
What does the examination cover?
The shell and conical bottom from the inside with the thinning measured, the filling head and closure, the relief valve tested to confirm it lifts, the pressure gauge, the metering and outlet, and the nameplate and safe working pressure.
Is it covered by PSSR or PUWER?
PSSR for the pressure vessel itself. The wider blasting equipment, the controls and the hoses are work equipment under PUWER, but a PUWER inspection does not replace the PSSR examination of the pot.
Who is competent to examine it?
A competent person with the training, skills, experience and knowledge for pressure vessels, independent of the pot's operation. Our engineer surveyors examine blast pots and report to the written scheme.
Do you examine abrasive blast pots across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to fabrication shops, shipyards and surface-treatment sites nationwide. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your work.

Is your abrasive blast pot 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