PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Steam-jacketed pan examination under PSSR

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

A steam-jacketed pan cooks by surrounding the product with steam in a sealed jacket, never letting the two touch, and it is that jacket, not the food space, that holds the pressure. PSSR treats the jacket as a pressure vessel, examined to a written scheme by a competent person.

0330 043 8191 Request a quote

Independent and impartial
Competent engineer surveyors
Reports issued promptly

The jacketThe steam space around the bowl is the pressure part

Written schemeExamined to a certified written scheme of examination

Certified reportA written report of examination, within 28 days

Indirect heatSteam heats the bowl, it never touches the product

Pressure equipment we examine

Why your steam-jacketed pan needs PSSR examination

A steam-jacketed pan, the workhorse of dairies, breweries and large kitchens, has a double wall: steam is fed into the jacket between the inner cooking bowl and the outer shell, and it heats the product gently and evenly without ever coming into contact with it. The jacket is a sealed steam space, and it, along with its relief valve and steam trap, is what PSSR is concerned with.

Because the jacket holds steam it is a pressure system under PSSR at any pressure, and Regulation 8 requires a written scheme of examination before the pan is used. The examination covers the jacket inside and out, the relief valve that protects it, the steam trap that clears condensate, and the safe working pressure, then reports on condition. We examine it independently of whoever supplies or maintains the pan.

Jacket inner wall

Jacket outer shell

Relief valve

Steam trap

Pressure gauge

Steam inlet

Trunnions and mounting

Nameplate and SWP

How it works

How we examine your steam-jacketed pan

A competent engineer surveyor examines the jacket, the part that holds the pressure, inside and out for corrosion, scale and wastage, paying attention to the inner wall between the steam and the product. The relief valve is tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the steam trap and condensate route are checked, and the safe working pressure is confirmed against the pan.

1
Get in touch
Tell us the pan, its jacket pressure and duty, and whether a written scheme is already in place.
2
On-site examination
A competent engineer surveyor examines the jacket inside and out 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 pan, we do not supply or service it
Competent engineer surveyors used to steam process plant and PSSR
The jacket examined inside and out, not just the bowl you can see
Certified reports issued promptly, the next examination date flagged

What we examine

Steam-jacketed pan: what a thorough examination covers

Jacket inner wall

The wall between the steam and the product examined for corrosion and wastage, because a breach here lets steam into the food space and ends the batch and the safety of the pan at once.

Jacket outer shell

The outer shell and its welds examined for corrosion, distortion and thinning, the pressure boundary that holds the steam in.

Relief valve

The relief valve tested so it lifts at the set pressure, set at or below the jacket's rating, the protection against over-pressure on the steam space.

Steam trap and condensate

The steam trap checked so it clears condensate and keeps the jacket heating evenly, since a failed trap floods the jacket and starves it of heat.

Scale and surfaces

The internal surfaces checked for the scale that hard water leaves, which insulates the wall, drives hot spots and wastes steam.

Trunnions and safe working pressure

The tilting trunnions and mounting checked for security, and the marked safe working pressure confirmed so the jacket is run within its limits.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

The steam jacket of a jacketed pan 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. Jacketed pans are commonly examined around every twenty-four to twenty-six months in line with industry guidance such as SAFed PSG 01, though the scheme sets the interval on the duty and condition. After each examination you receive a written report on the condition of the jacket 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-jacketed pan 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-jacketed pan examination: common questions

Does a steam-jacketed pan need a PSSR examination?

Yes. The steam jacket holds steam and is a pressure system under PSSR at any pressure, so the pan 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 pan is used, and the examination produces a certified written report. Our guide to PSSR explains the scheme and what it must contain.

It only cooks food, why is it a pressure system?

Because the heating is done by steam in a sealed jacket, and that jacket is a pressure vessel regardless of what is in the bowl. The product never touches the steam, but the jacket holds it under pressure, and the stored energy is what the examination guards against.

How often should it be examined?

To the intervals the written scheme sets. Jacketed pans are commonly examined around every twenty-four to twenty-six months under industry guidance, but the competent person sets and reviews the interval on the duty and condition.

What does the examination cover?

The jacket inner wall and outer shell inside and out, the relief valve tested to confirm it lifts, the steam trap and condensate route, the pressure gauge, the trunnions and mounting, and the nameplate and safe working pressure.

Is it covered by PSSR or PUWER?

PSSR, because the jacket is a steam pressure system. The pan is still work equipment to be maintained under PUWER, but a PUWER inspection does not replace the PSSR examination of the jacket.

Who is competent to examine it?

A competent person with the training, skills, experience and knowledge for steam process plant, independent of its operation. Our engineer surveyors examine jacketed pans and similar plant and report to the written scheme.

Do you examine steam-jacketed pans across the UK?

Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to food factories, breweries, dairies and large kitchens nationwide and work around production. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit.

Is your steam-jacketed pan due an examination?

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