Written schemes of examination and pressure tests, scheduled and certified.
Manage PSSR compliance for pressure systems: written schemes of examination, competent-person exams and certificates in one register.
Quick answer
Pressure systems compliance means managing pressure vessels, boilers, air receivers, pipework and protective devices so stored energy is controlled safely. Under PSSR 2000 and HSE pressure systems guidance, systems in scope need safe operating limits, maintenance, a written scheme of examination and competent-person examinations at the intervals set in that scheme.
For installed pressure systems, duties usually fall on the user; for mobile systems, they fall on the owner. In practice, that is the business operating or controlling the system. They must know the safe operating limits, maintain the system and arrange examination by a competent person.
PSSR examination frequency is set by the written scheme of examination, not a single fixed interval. The scheme identifies what must be examined, how often, and any preparation required. It should be reviewed when the system, use, condition or risk changes.
Keep the written scheme of examination, reports of examination, safe operating limits, maintenance records, defect and remedial evidence, and records for protective devices such as safety valves. Evidence should show examinations happened when the scheme required and that repairs needed to prevent danger were completed before further use.
CertFlow stores each pressure system, vessel and protective device in the asset register with its written scheme and examination dates. Competent-person reports, pressure test certificates, defects and remedials are linked to the asset, giving managers a live compliance register and a defensible history when insurers, clients or regulators ask.
The duty
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) require that pressure systems have a written scheme of examination drawn up by a competent person, and are examined in accordance with that scheme before deterioration could cause danger.
CertFlow stores each written scheme against its system, schedules examinations to the right competent person, and keeps every Report of Examination filed and searchable.
Your legal duties
A pressure system within scope must have a written scheme of examination, drawn up or certified by a competent person, before it is operated. The scheme sets out which parts are examined, by whom and at what intervals.
The system must be examined by a competent person in line with the written scheme, before deterioration could cause danger, and a report of examination issued for the records.
The user must establish the safe operating limits of the system, maintain it properly, and ensure protective devices such as safety valves are kept in good working order.
Where a competent person reports that repairs are needed to prevent imminent danger, the system must not be used until those repairs have been carried out.
How CertFlow handles it
Pressure Systems runs on the same platform as every other discipline, so the workflow, the registry and the audit trail are identical, whatever your team inspects.
A built-in PSSR 2000 report template, plus a drag-and-drop builder and bespoke PDF overlay for any client-specific form.
Put every pressure systems asset on a recurring examination cycle. CertFlow generates the jobs and warns you before anything falls due.
Readings, photos and signatures are captured in the field on mobile, fully offline, and sync the moment a connection returns.
Every pressure systems certificate is filed in a searchable, exportable compliance registry with a full timestamped history.
From the field
The defects and gaps that come up again and again on pressure systems inspections, the ones a good system helps you catch before an auditor does.
Why it matters
Operating a pressure system without a valid written scheme or examination is an offence under PSSR 2000. It can bring HSE enforcement, prosecution and unlimited fines, and a failure under pressure can be catastrophic.
Free download: the Pressure Systems duty-holder guideQuestions
A document required by PSSR 2000 that specifies the parts of a pressure system to be examined, the nature and frequency of examination, and any measures needed to prepare the system for safe examination. It must be drawn up or certified by a competent person.
Systems containing a relevant fluid above 0.5 bar above atmospheric pressure, such as steam boilers, air receivers, autoclaves, compressors and the associated pipework and protective devices.
A competent person with the skills, knowledge, experience and independence needed for the system. For more complex systems this is often an authorised or chartered inspection engineer.
CertFlow stores each written scheme against its system, schedules examinations to the right competent person at the scheme intervals, and keeps every report of examination filed and searchable.
Yes. Protective devices such as safety valves can be held as assets with their own test schedules, results and certificates, alongside the system they protect.
Further reading
What the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 require of you, built around the written scheme of examination.
References
Links to primary UK legislation and official regulator guidance. CertFlow is independent and not affiliated with these bodies.
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See it on your data
We'll set up a live environment with your asset types and branding, then walk you through a PSSR 2000 job end to end.
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