Steam Boiler Inspection
Steam Boilers Under PSSR
A steam boiler holds a large amount of stored energy, which is why steam systems fall under PSSR 2000 at any pressure. The boiler, its protective devices and the steam pipework must be examined to a Written Scheme of Examination, usually through a cold examination with the boiler shut down and opened up, and a working examination of its safety devices under steam.
Nexus can draw up the scheme and carry out both examinations on site.
Steam Boiler PSSR
Regulation
PSSR 2000
Examined to
Written Scheme
Typical interval
Around 14 months
Examined
On site
Report turnaround
Within 3 days
What's included
What's covered in a steam boiler examination
Shell, Furnace and Tubes
On the cold examination we look inside the shell, furnace, tubes and tube plates for corrosion, scale, cracking and signs of overheating. Scale build-up and water-side corrosion are findings we see often.
Safety Valves
We confirm the safety valves are correctly rated and set, and on the working examination that they lift and reseat. A safety valve set too high or seized is the defect that matters most.
Water Level Controls and Alarms
We test the water level controls, low water alarms and cut-outs that stop the boiler running dry. A low water cut-out that does not operate is a serious finding we report at once.
Gauge Glasses and Blowdown
We check the gauge glasses and their cocks, the pressure gauge and the blowdown valves for condition and correct operation.
Feedwater, Pipework and Data Plate
We examine the feedwater connections, the steam pipework covered by the scheme, mountings and supports, and confirm the data plate and safe operating limits are present and legible.
How it works
Your steam boiler'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 about the boiler and your site, and we agree dates for the cold and working examinations and a fixed quote, usually same day.
2
On-site examination
A competent examiner examines the boiler shut down and opened up, then proves the safety devices under steam.
3
Compliant report
Within three days you get your examination report, with the findings and any defects set out.
4
Reminders
We track the scheme's due dates and remind you before the next examination is needed.
OUR STANDARDS
Steam examined with the respect it demands
We take our responsibilities seriously, upholding the highest standards of professionalism, quality and safety across every aspect of our operations.
Quality Assurance
Cold and working examinations carried out by competent examiners who know where steam boilers fail.
Responsibility
An examination to your Written Scheme that keeps your steam plant compliant with PSSR 2000.
Care
A steam failure is sudden and violent, so we prove the safety devices work rather than assume they do.
GET IN TOUCH
Request a Steam Boiler Examination
Tell us about the boiler and when it can come off line, 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
Steam Boiler Inspection: Common Questions
How often does a steam boiler need examining?
As often as your Written Scheme of Examination says. A competent person sets the interval, and for steam boilers the cold examination is commonly around every 14 months, with working examinations of the safety devices set by the scheme as well.
What's the difference between a cold and a working examination?
A cold examination is done with the boiler shut down, cooled and opened up, so the shell, furnace and tubes can be examined inside. A working examination is done under steam, to prove the safety valves, water level controls and alarms work as they should.
Does PSSR cover hot water boilers?
Steam systems are covered at any pressure. An ordinary low-temperature hot water heating boiler falls outside PSSR, but pressurised hot water systems running well above 100°C can come into scope, so it is worth checking.
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.