PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Written scheme of examination under PSSR

Independent examination of your pressure system under a Written Scheme of Examination, by a competent person under PSSR.

A written scheme of examination is the document every pressure system in scope must have before it runs. It names the parts to be examined, sets how and how often each is examined, and is drawn up or certified by a competent person. Without a suitable one, the law says the system must not be operated at all.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Before it runsA system in scope must not operate without one
CertifiedDrawn up or certified by a competent person
Names the partsVessels, protective devices and pipework
Sets the intervalsThe nature and frequency of each examination
Pressure equipment we examine

Why your pressure system needs PSSR examination

A written scheme of examination is the formal document that underpins PSSR. It sets out which parts of a pressure system are to be examined, the nature of each examination, how often it is done, the steps needed to prepare the system for safe examination, and where appropriate that the system is examined before it is first used. In short, it is the plan the whole regime runs on.

Its legal status is stark. Regulation 8 says that the user of an installed system, or the owner of a mobile one, must not operate it without a suitable written scheme drawn up or certified by a competent person. That is a criminal prohibition, not a recommendation. The scheme is site-specific and system-specific, categorised by risk under the Approved Code of Practice L122, and never a generic template pulled off the internet.

The parts in scope
Protective devices
Pipework where it matters
The nature of each exam
The frequency
Preparation for examination
Examination before first use
The competent person
How it works

How we examine your pressure system

We draw up and certify the scheme, then examine to it. A competent engineer surveyor surveys the system, identifies the vessels, protective devices and pipework that fall in scope, sets the nature and frequency of each examination on the risk, and certifies the written scheme. The system is then examined to that scheme, and you have one document and one set of dates covering the whole installation.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us the system, what it holds and its pressures, and whether any scheme exists today.

  • 2

    We survey and certify the scheme

    A competent engineer surveyor surveys the system and draws up and certifies a written scheme for it.

  • 3

    Examinations to the scheme

    We examine the system to the scheme and issue a written report, then keep it on cycle.

Why businesses choose SEIS

  • A competent person draws up and certifies the scheme, not a template
  • Site-specific and system-specific, written around your actual plant
  • One scheme and one set of dates for the whole system
  • We draw up the scheme and we examine to it, end to end
What we examine

Pressure system: what a thorough examination covers

The parts in scope

The scheme identifies every part of the system that must be examined, the vessels first of all, so nothing that holds the pressure is left out.

The protective devices

The safety valves, bursting discs, gauges and cut-outs are named, because a vessel is only as safe as the devices that protect it from over-pressure.

The pipework that matters

The pipework whose failure would release stored energy and endanger people is included, while parts that carry no such risk can be justified out.

The nature of each examination

The scheme states what each examination involves, from external and working checks to internal examination and any testing.

The frequency

The scheme sets how often each part is examined, on the risk and condition, and that interval is reviewed as the plant ages or changes.

Preparation and first use

The scheme sets out how the system is made safe to examine, and where it applies, that it is examined before it is first put to use.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

Under Regulation 8 a pressure system in scope must not be operated without a suitable written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, and Regulation 9 requires the system to be examined in accordance with it. The scheme is reviewed and amended as the plant ages, changes or moves. We draw up and certify the scheme and carry out the examinations to it, issuing a written report on condition after each, 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

Pressure system 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

Pressure system examination: common questions

Does my pressure system need a written scheme of examination?
It does where the system holds a relevant fluid above the threshold, that is over 250 bar litres, or steam at any pressure. Such a system must not be operated without a suitable written scheme. You can read the duty in the HSE guidance on the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations.
What must a written scheme of examination contain?
The parts of the system to be examined, the nature and frequency of each examination, the preparation needed to examine the system safely, and where appropriate that it is examined before first use. Our guide to PSSR sets this out in full.
Who can draw up or certify a written scheme?
A competent person, defined as having the training, skills, experience and knowledge to do it, and independent of the system's operation. The scheme must be drawn up or certified by that person, which is the work our engineer surveyors do.
What is the difference between the scheme and the examination?
The scheme is the plan and the examination is the work. Regulation 8 requires the written scheme to be in place first, and Regulation 9 requires the system to be examined in accordance with it. One defines what is examined and how often, the other carries it out and reports.
Can I use a generic template I found online?
No. A written scheme has to be site-specific and system-specific, written around your actual vessels, devices and pipework and certified by a competent person. A generic template does not reflect your plant and does not meet the duty under Regulation 8.
What happens if I operate without one?
Operating a system in scope without a suitable written scheme is a breach of Regulation 8, a criminal matter the HSE can enforce, and it leaves you exposed on insurance and, far more seriously, on safety. Putting a proper scheme in place is the way to resolve it.
How often is the scheme reviewed?
It is reviewed and amended whenever the plant ages, changes or moves enough to affect it, and the competent person keeps the examination intervals under review at each examination rather than leaving them fixed forever.
Can you draw up a scheme and carry out the examinations across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors draw up and certify written schemes and examine to them nationwide, for a single vessel or a whole installation. Call 0330 043 8191 to get a scheme in place.

Is your pressure system 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