PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Air receiver examination under PSSR

Independent examination of your air receiver under a Written Scheme of Examination, by a competent person under PSSR.

An air receiver stores the compressed energy of your whole system, and the water that condenses inside it quietly eats the steel from the bottom up. PSSR makes it a pressure system that must not run without a written scheme, and a competent examination is how the corrosion is found before the vessel fails.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Written schemeExamined to a certified written scheme of examination
Internal tooBottom corrosion is the defect a walk-round never sees
Certified reportA written report of examination, within 28 days
Over 250 bar litresA compressed-air system in PSSR scope
Pressure equipment we examine

Why your air receiver needs PSSR examination

An air receiver is the pressure vessel that stores compressed air between the compressor and the tools, smoothing the demand and letting moisture drop out as the air cools. That moisture is the problem: condensate collects in the base, and corrosion around the bottom and the drain is the single most common defect a competent person finds.

Under the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 a receiver above 250 bar litres is a pressure system, and Regulation 8 says it must not be operated without a written scheme of examination drawn up or certified by a competent person. The system is then examined to the intervals the scheme sets, inside and out, with the gauge and safety valve tested, and a written report issued. We carry out the examination, not the supply, so the report is independent.

Shell and end caps
Internal corrosion
Bottom and drain
Safety relief valve
Pressure gauge
Isolation valve
Pipework connections
Nameplate and SWP
How it works

How we examine your air receiver

A competent engineer surveyor examines the receiver inside and out, because the corrosion that matters is internal. The vessel is opened where the scheme calls for it and the shell, end caps and the base around the drain are checked for pitting and wastage, the safety valve is removed and tested so it lifts at the set pressure, and the gauge is checked for accuracy across its range.

  • 1

    Get in touch

    Tell us the receiver, its size and pressure, and whether a written scheme is already in place.

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent engineer surveyor examines the vessel inside and out and tests the safety valve and gauge, 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 receiver, we do not supply or service it
  • Competent engineer surveyors used to compressed-air systems and PSSR
  • Internal and external examination, not a quick walk-round of the outside
  • Certified reports issued promptly, the next examination date flagged
What we examine

Air receiver: what a thorough examination covers

Internal corrosion and the base

The inside of the shell and the bottom where condensate sits, examined for pitting and wastage that thin the steel, the defect that bursts an air receiver and the one an external look never finds.

Safety relief valve

The valve removed and pressure-tested so it lifts at the set pressure, because a valve seized or set wrong leaves the vessel with no protection against over-pressure.

Pressure gauge

The gauge checked for accuracy across its range, since a needle stuck by a blocked siphon tube can read a steady, comforting and completely false pressure.

Drain and condensate

The drain valve, manual or automatic, checked so it actually clears the water, because a seized drain is what lets the corrosion start.

Shell, welds and connections

The shell, end caps, welds and the branch connections for cracking, distortion and external corrosion at the supports and fittings.

Nameplate and safe working pressure

The plate and marked safe working pressure, so the receiver is run within the limits the scheme and the examination are built around.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

A compressed-air receiver above 250 bar litres is a pressure system, so under Regulation 8 it must have a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, before it is operated. It is then examined to the intervals the scheme sets, which for a receiver commonly means a more frequent external and working examination with a less frequent internal examination. After each examination you receive a written report on the condition of the vessel and its protective devices, 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

Air receiver 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

Air receiver examination: common questions

Does an air receiver need a PSSR examination?
Yes, where it is in scope. A compressed-air receiver whose pressure times internal volume exceeds 250 bar litres is a pressure system under PSSR, and it must not be operated 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 says a pressure system in scope must not be operated unless a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, is in place. The examination against that scheme then produces a certified written report. Our guide to PSSR explains the scheme and what it must contain.
How often should an air receiver be examined?
To the intervals the written scheme sets, which depend on the duty and condition. In practice a receiver often has a more frequent external and working examination with a less frequent internal examination, where the vessel is opened up. The competent person sets and reviews those intervals.
Is it covered by PSSR or PUWER?
PSSR, where it is over 250 bar litres. Below that threshold the written scheme duty falls away, but the receiver is still work equipment to be maintained and inspected under PUWER, and your insurer may still require an examination. A PUWER inspection does not replace a PSSR examination.
What does the examination cover?
The shell, end caps and internal surfaces, the base and drain where condensate corrodes, the safety relief valve tested to confirm it lifts, the pressure gauge checked for accuracy, the isolation valve and pipework, and the nameplate and safe working pressure.
Who is competent to examine a pressure system?
A competent person with the training, skills, experience and knowledge for the system, and independent of its day-to-day operation. Our engineer surveyors examine compressed-air systems regularly and report to the written scheme.
Why does the receiver have to be opened for an internal examination?
Because the corrosion that fails an air receiver is on the inside, at the bottom where water sits, and no external look will find it. The scheme sets when an internal examination is due, and the vessel is prepared and opened so the inside can be examined directly.
Do you examine air receivers across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to workshops, factories and plant rooms nationwide, a single receiver or a full compressed-air system. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your shutdown.

Is your air receiver 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