PSSR 2000 · Pressure systems

Steam receiver examination under PSSR

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

Steam carries enough energy to be a pressure system at any pressure at all, with no threshold to fall under. A steam receiver holds and dries that steam, and wet steam erodes it from the inside, which is why PSSR puts it on a written scheme and a competent examination.

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  • Independent and impartial
  • Competent engineer surveyors
  • Reports issued promptly
Steam, any pressureA steam system is in PSSR scope at any pressure
Written schemeExamined to a certified written scheme of examination
Certified reportA written report of examination, within 28 days
Dry steamThe separator and trap that keep condensate out of the line
Pressure equipment we examine

Why your steam receiver needs PSSR examination

A steam receiver holds steam and separates the entrained water from it, so that dry steam reaches the plant downstream and condensate drops out to a trap. Steam brings two things air does not: the scald and flash risk of a sudden release, and erosion, where wet steam and condensate wear the shell, the baffles and the outlet from the inside.

Steam is a relevant fluid at any pressure, so a steam receiver is a pressure system under PSSR with no 250 bar litre threshold to consider. Regulation 8 requires a written scheme of examination before it is used, and the system is then examined to the scheme, inside and out, with the safety valve tested and the steam trap and separator checked. We examine it independently and report to the scheme.

Shell and end caps
Internal erosion
Baffles and separator
Safety relief valve
Pressure gauge
Steam trap
Inlet and outlet
Nameplate and SWP
How it works

How we examine your steam receiver

A competent engineer surveyor examines the receiver inside and out for the erosion and thinning that wet steam leaves, particularly at the baffles, the outlet and any change of direction. The safety valve is removed and tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the gauge is checked for accuracy, and the steam trap and separator are checked so the steam leaving the vessel is dry.

  • 1

    Get in touch

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

  • 2

    On-site examination

    A competent engineer surveyor examines the vessel inside and out and tests the safety valve and trap, 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 steam plant and PSSR
  • Internal and external examination for erosion, not a walk-round
  • Certified reports issued promptly, the next examination date flagged
What we examine

Steam receiver: what a thorough examination covers

Internal erosion and thinning

The shell, baffles and the outlet where wet steam and condensate wear the metal away, the loss that an external look cannot measure and that thins the vessel over time.

Safety relief valve

The valve removed and pressure-tested so it lifts at the set pressure, the protection against over-pressure on a fluid that releases its energy violently.

Separator and baffles

The internal baffles and separating surfaces that strip water from the steam, checked so the receiver delivers dry steam and is not eroding itself in the process.

Steam trap and condensate

The trap that drains the condensate, checked so water is cleared and not carried into the line, where it erodes plant and risks water hammer.

Pressure gauge

The gauge checked for accuracy across its range, so the operator and the examiner see the true pressure of a system that gives no second chances.

Nameplate and safe working pressure

The plate and marked safe working pressure, so the receiver is operated within the limits the written scheme is built around.

Scheme and certification

How it works, and what you receive

Steam is a relevant fluid at any pressure, so a steam receiver is a pressure system under PSSR regardless of the 250 bar litre threshold that applies to gases. Under Regulation 8 it must have a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, before it is used, and it is then examined to the intervals the scheme sets, inside and out. 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

Steam 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

Steam receiver examination: common questions

Does a steam receiver need a PSSR examination?
Yes. Steam is a relevant fluid at any pressure, so a steam receiver is a pressure system under PSSR with no 250 bar litre threshold to fall under, 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 requires a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, before the system is used, and the examination produces a certified written report. Our guide to PSSR explains the scheme and what it must contain.
Does the threshold not apply because it is steam?
Correct. The 250 bar litre threshold applies to gases and other relevant fluids, but steam is in scope at any pressure and any volume. If your system holds steam, it is a pressure system under PSSR and needs a written scheme.
How often should a steam receiver be examined?
To the intervals the written scheme sets, based on the duty and condition. Steam plant is typically examined inside and out, and the scheme sets when each examination is due and the preparation needed to make the vessel safe to open.
What does the examination cover?
The shell, end caps and internal surfaces for erosion, the baffles and separator, the safety relief valve tested to confirm it lifts, the pressure gauge checked for accuracy, the steam trap, the inlet and outlet, and the nameplate and safe working pressure.
Who is competent to examine steam plant?
A competent person with the training, skills, experience and knowledge for steam systems, independent of their operation. Our engineer surveyors examine steam plant regularly and report to the written scheme.
What is the difference between erosion and corrosion here?
Corrosion is the chemical wastage of the steel, while erosion is the mechanical wear from wet steam and condensate moving through the vessel, worst at the outlet and any change of direction. A steam receiver suffers both, which is why the internal examination looks closely at thinning.
Do you examine steam receivers across the UK?
Yes. Our engineer surveyors travel to sites with steam plant nationwide, a single receiver or a full steam system. Call 0330 043 8191 to arrange a visit around your shutdown.

Is your steam 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