PSSR Inspections And Written Schemes Of Examination Across the UK
Pressure Systems Inspections
If your pressure equipment’s written scheme has lapsed, or you’ve just discovered a compressor or boiler on site falls under PSSR at all, you’re not alone — a surprising number of businesses only find out once an insurer or auditor asks the question. Send your equipment list and we’ll come back with a quote, usually within 48 hours.
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PSSR Inspections And Written Schemes Of Examination Across the UK
Pressure Systems Inspections
If your written scheme has lapsed, or you’ve just discovered your equipment falls under PSSR, send your equipment list and we’ll come back with a quote — usually within 48 hours.
Is Your Equipment Covered By PSSR?
PSSR doesn’t apply to everything under pressure. Hydraulic systems are explicitly excluded, however high their operating pressure runs, because they don’t store energy the way a compressed air or steam system does. What does count is any system holding steam at any pressure, or a gas or liquid exerting more than 0.5 bar above atmospheric, where the pressure multiplied by the volume works out at 250 bar-litres or more. In practice, that covers air receivers and compressors, steam boilers, autoclaves, refrigeration and air conditioning plant with a compressor motor over 25kW — and, more often than businesses expect, the pressurised coffee boilers found in commercial kitchens and cafés. If you’re not sure whether your equipment qualifies, send us a description and we’ll tell you plainly rather than push you toward a survey you may not need.
The Written Scheme Of Examination
What A Written Scheme Of Examination Actually Requires
Unlike some equipment regulations, PSSR doesn’t set a fixed inspection interval in law. Instead, Regulation 8 requires a competent person to draw up a written scheme of examination for your specific system, and that document — not a blanket rule — sets how often each part gets examined. It’s common for the same item to carry separate in-service and out-of-service dates, since a working examination under pressure and a stripped-down internal examination often run to different intervals. As a rough guide, protective devices are often examined annually and vessels every one to a few years, but your written scheme is what actually governs your dates. We produce your written scheme, examine against it, and reissue or amend it as your equipment or its use changes.
Pressure Equipment We Examine Across The UK
We examine the full range of pressure equipment found across UK industry, from a single air compressor to multi-vessel process plant.
Compressed Air Systems
- Air receivers
- Air compressors
- Airline pipework and fittings
- Pressure switches and gauges
Steam & Process Plant
- Steam boilers
- Autoclaves
- Process vessels
- Heat exchangers
Refrigeration & Cooling
- Refrigeration plant
- Air conditioning over 25kW
- Chillers
- Cold store plant
Hospitality & Catering
- Commercial coffee boilers
- Steam ovens
- Combi-steamers
- Catering pressure equipment
Transport & Mobile Systems
- Bulk road tankers
- Mobile compressors
- Vehicle air receivers
- Tanker protective devices
Protective Devices
- Safety valves
- Bursting discs
- Pressure relief valves
- Pressure gauges and controllers
If your equipment isn’t listed here, get in touch. We work across manufacturing, food and drink production, engineering, waste and recycling, healthcare, education, energy, print and packaging, logistics, and hospitality — and most pressure systems we haven’t specifically mentioned still fall within scope. If you also need LEV testing for extraction systems on the same site, we can usually cover both in one visit.
GSB Inspections Reviews
Client Satisfaction
Prompt and professional friendly service.
Apples & Pears Nursery
Inspected transferable winch units with, greatly appreciated, additional guidance covering separate requirements for accompanying D shackles and inspection schedule. Very diligent service and great value.
Andrew Piekarczyk
Gary has been doing MPi ltd's lifting certifications, air compressor tank and roller shutter door inspections for a number of years now. I have always found him a pleasure to... read more
matt page
Excellent service & communications
Gary Jackson
Been using GSB for a year, great service keeping all our plant and machinery in certification
James Plant
My first contact was with Gary and he dealt with my query and questions brilliantly. He explained the process, it was easy to sort and it went smoothly. Expected contact... read more
Mrs B
Excellent service very competent knowledgeable and professional staff Would highly recommend
Carl Eades
Well what a great service Gary provides, always does a very thorough job, can't recommend enough, we always Gary really great guy.
Daz Griffiths
Excellent service, very thorough and practical
Kerry Callear
Service, communication, support and advice has been excellent, Garry has gone out of his way to support our school with issues arisen from council maintenance, he has gone out of... read more
Miss H Morrey
Great service. Would highly recommend and will use again.
Jade Furey
Gary has been doing our certifications for the last few years. Very professional and very reliable. A**
Rob Scanlan
Great bloke, reliable, informative, pleasure to deal with.
Gary Jackson
Who Enforces PSSR, And What That Means For Your Business
PSSR is enforced jointly by the Health and Safety Executive and Local Authority environmental health officers, and which one you’re dealing with typically depends on your setting rather than your industry as such. HSE tends to lead at manufacturing and industrial sites, while Local Authority officers more often cover lower-risk premises. It’s a distinction most inspection providers don’t bother explaining, but it matters: if a defect found during examination could give rise to danger, we’re required under Regulation 10 to send a copy of our report to whichever authority covers your premises within 14 days, on top of notifying you immediately. Knowing which authority applies to your business — and why — is part of understanding your actual PSSR risk, not just ticking a compliance box.
What Happens On The Day Of Your Examination
You’ll know roughly what to expect before our engineer arrives, whether it’s an in-service or out-of-service visit.
1
Sight Of Scheme
Our engineer will want sight of your written scheme of examination and any previous reports before starting.
2
Examination
The system is examined in or out of service as specified in the scheme, with functional testing of protective devices where required.
3
Defect Reporting
Anything that could give rise to danger is reported to you immediately, not held back for the final paperwork.
4
Written Report
You’ll receive a full report of examination, with separate next examination dates where in-service and out-of-service intervals differ.
Our Commitment To Your Safety
We Are A Proud Associate Member Of The Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed)
As an associate member of the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed), we follow the technical guidance produced by SAFed’s Pressure Equipment Technical Committee for the examination of pressure systems, alongside HSE’s Approved Code of Practice L122. Membership isn’t a formality — it means our engineers work to the same standards followed across the UK’s independent engineering inspection industry.
What Your Report Of Examination Contains
Regulation 9 requires a written report of examination, and ours covers the type of examination carried out (in-service, out-of-service, or intermediate), the condition of external and internal surfaces and protective devices, and any parts not examined or inaccessible. Where action is needed, we split it clearly into required actions with a completion date, other defects that need rectifying as soon as reasonably practicable, and general observations. The report states the result of examination and, because in-service and out-of-service intervals can differ for the same item, gives next examination dates for each separately. Our reports are authenticated by qualified engineers, including CEng-qualified staff, and any defect that could give rise to danger is reported to you immediately rather than held for the final paperwork.
Why Choose GSB Inspections For Your PSSR Inspections?
When you need PSSR inspections, you want a provider that understands pressure systems and gets straight to the point.
Direct Contact, No Middleman
You won’t be passed around a call centre or dealt with through multiple departments. When you ring 01782 855481 or email us, you reach one of the two directors directly (they own the business and are both senior engineers) — the people who can actually give you an answer and a date.
SAFed Associate Membership
We’re proud associate members of the Safety Assessment Federation (SAFed), the leading trade association for the UK’s independent engineering inspection industry, covering pressure systems as well as lifting equipment.
Flexible, Responsive Service
Unlike larger organisations with rigid scheduling, we work around your operations. Shutdown periods, out-of-hours access, multi-site coordination — we adapt to how your business actually runs.
UK-Wide Coverage
We provide PSSR inspections and written schemes of examination throughout the UK, without being tied to a single regional patch or a fixed maintenance contract — independence that means our recommendations are based on your equipment, not on selling you more work.
Clear, Detailed Reporting
Following your PSSR examination, you’ll receive a comprehensive report detailing our findings, any required actions with completion dates, and — where relevant — changes needed to your written scheme.
Our engineers act as competent persons under Regulations 8 and 9 of PSSR, with experience across compressed air, steam, refrigeration and mobile pressure systems.
How To Book A PSSR Inspection
We’ve designed our PSSR process to be straightforward and cause minimal disruption to your operations.
1
Send An Equipment List
Email us at info@gsbinspections.co.uk with what you have, roughly how it’s used, and where it’s sited.
2
Receive A Quote
We aim to come back with a quote within 48 hours of receiving your equipment list.
3
Confirm A Date
We’ll work around your operational requirements where we can — shutdown periods, out-of-hours access, and multi-site scheduling.
Got Questions? (FAQs)
If you have equipment holding steam at any pressure, or a gas or liquid over 0.5 bar where pressure × volume reaches 250 bar-litres or more, PSSR applies. Common examples are air receivers, compressors, steam boilers, autoclaves, and pressurised coffee boilers in commercial kitchens.
There’s no fixed interval in law. Your written scheme of examination sets it, often with separate in-service and out-of-service dates for the same item, based on the equipment and how it’s used.
No. Hydraulic systems are explicitly excluded, however high the pressure runs, because they don’t store energy the same way a compressed air or steam system does.
PSSR is specific to pressure systems and centres on the written scheme of examination. PUWER covers the broader safe use and maintenance of work equipment generally. A system can fall under both.
Both, depending on the setting. HSE typically leads at industrial and manufacturing sites; Local Authority environmental health officers more often cover lower-risk premises.
You shouldn’t operate the system. If a defect found during examination could give rise to danger, we issue an immediate report to you and, within 14 days, notify the enforcing authority under Regulation 10.
GSB Inspection Services
PSSR Inspection Service Areas
Please note that this is not an exhaustive list — we are constantly expanding our reach to serve additional regions. If your area isn’t listed, get in touch; we very likely still cover it.
Require A PSSR Inspection in the UK?
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