Safety Valve Testing
Safety Valves and PSSR
A safety valve, or pressure relief valve, is the protective device that stops a pressure system over-pressurising, so PSSR 2000 treats it as a key part of the Written Scheme of Examination. We verify it against the system's safe operating limit and test that it lifts and reseats as it should.
Safety valves sit on vessels like an air receiver or a refrigerant receiver, and we examine those too.
Safety Valve PSSR
Regulation
PSSR 2000
Examined to
Written Scheme
Typical interval
12-48 months
Examined
On site
Report turnaround
Within 3 days
What's included
What's covered in a safety valve examination
Set Pressure
We test the set (lift) pressure against the system's safe operating limit, the figure that decides whether the valve protects the system. A set pressure that has drifted high, so it lifts too late, is the fault that matters most.
Lift and Reseat
We confirm the valve lifts and reseats cleanly, checking blowdown and that it closes without weeping. A weeping or leaking seat is a common finding.
Seat, Disc and Internals
We examine the seat and disc, the spring and body, and check for corrosion. Corroded or seized internals stop a valve doing its one job.
Rating and Tampering
We confirm the correct rating, size and type for the duty, and look for broken adjustment seals or signs of tampering. The wrong rating or an undersized valve for the system is a defect we flag.
Discharge and Scheme
We check the discharge or vent arrangement and confirm the valve matches the Written Scheme of Examination, so it is the right protection, correctly set, for that system.
How it works
Your safety valve's PSSR examination, start to finish
Every scheme your equipment is required to meet under UK regulation carried out by accredited engineers and backed by compliant reports.
1
Book
Tell us what the valve protects and the site, and we confirm a date and a fixed quote, usually same day.
2
On-site examination
A competent examiner attends and tests the valve against the system's safe operating limit, on site.
3
Compliant report
You receive your examination report within three days, with the verdict and any defects set out.
4
Reminders
We track the scheme's due date and remind you before the valve needs testing again.
OUR STANDARDS
The last line of defence, properly tested
We take our responsibilities seriously, upholding the highest standards of professionalism, quality and safety across every aspect of our operations.
Quality Assurance
Set pressures verified by competent examiners who test against the system's limits, not just that the valve opens.
Responsibility
A rigorous examination to your Written Scheme that keeps you compliant with PSSR 2000.
Care
A safety valve is the last thing between a system and a serious failure, so we test it like it matters, because it does.
GET IN TOUCH
Request Safety Valve Testing
Tell us what the valve protects and when suits, and we'll confirm availability and a competitive quote, usually the same day.
Call us
0208 050 3958
Based in
Reading, Berkshire: serving the South of England
● Hampshire
● Oxfordshire
● Northamptonshire
● Cambridgeshire
● Surrey
● Buckinghamshire
● London
FAQ
Safety Valve Testing FAQs
How often should a safety valve be tested?
At the interval set in your Written Scheme of Examination, which a competent person decides. Safety valves are commonly examined alongside the vessel they protect, often somewhere between 12 and 48 months. The scheme, not a fixed rule, sets it.
Why does the set pressure matter so much?
Because the safety valve is the last line of defence. If its set pressure has drifted, it may not lift in time to relieve an over-pressure, so we verify it against the system's safe operating limit rather than just checking that it opens.
What is a Written Scheme of Examination?
It is the document, drawn up by a competent person, that sets out which parts of your pressure system must be examined, how, and how often. PSSR requires one before the system is used. We can write the scheme for you and then carry out the examinations to it.
Do I legally need a PSSR examination?
If you operate a pressure system that stores energy - compressed air, steam or refrigeration - PSSR 2000 makes it your duty to have a Written Scheme of Examination and to examine the system to it. Running without one is a criminal offence, and a competent person's report is your evidence of compliance.
Do you carry out PSSR examinations on site?
Yes. Our examiners come to your premises across Berkshire and the surrounding counties, examine the system in place, and issue the report promptly.