Table of Contents
Your insurer wants proof of your last PSSR inspection. HSE expects a Written Scheme of Examination. The paperwork is spread across two inboxes and a filing cabinet. And nobody on site is sure what the law actually asks for.
If that sounds familiar, you are not alone. Most sites we visit are stuck in the same spot: caught between the insurer and HSE, with no clear answer from either. This post explains what PSSR requires, and how our PressureSafe pack takes the whole job off your desk.
Why you cannot skip a PSSR inspection
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) cover almost every compressed air system in the UK. That includes your air receiver, your dryer, and your pipework above 0.5 bar.
The rule that catches most sites is simple. If a defect in your system could cause danger, you need a Written Scheme of Examination. As a guide, systems storing more than 250 bar litres need one. Multiply your operating pressure by your receiver volume. A standard 500 litre receiver at 8 bar stores 4,000 bar litres. That is 16 times over the threshold.
What counts as pressure equipment? More than you might think. A typical compressed air system includes several items that fall under PSSR: the air receiver, the aftercooler and moisture separator, the dryer’s pressure vessel, and the pipework and fittings between them.
So if you run compressed air, PSSR almost certainly applies to you. You need three things:
- A Written Scheme of Examination. A document that lists every item of pressure equipment and how often it must be examined.
- Examinations carried out on time. By a competent person, at the intervals the scheme sets.
- Records you can show. To your insurer, and to HSE if they ask.
Miss any of the three and you carry the risk. Not your insurer. Not your service provider. You. (Full detail is on the HSE pressure systems pages.)
If you want the background first, read our PSSR compliance guide. If you want the problem solved, read on.
What the PressureSafe pack does about it
PressureSafe is our PSSR compliance pack. One partner, three levels, one clear set of paperwork. You pick the level that matches your site, so you only pay for what you need.
Every level follows the same five steps:
- Site review. We check your installation and list what falls under PSSR and what does not. No padding.
- Written Scheme of Examination. We prepare the document PSSR requires, item by item, with examination intervals.
- Examination and reporting. Examinations run to the scheme. You get a clear result for each item: pass, advisory, or needs work.
- Remedial coordination. If something needs fixing, we quote it, schedule it, and confirm it is done.
- Reminders and renewal. Automated reminders 60 and 30 days before every due date. You never miss an examination window.
We also deal with the people you are stuck between. We coordinate directly with major insurance inspection bodies, including Zurich, HSB, and Allianz Engineering. When an examination is due, we handle the scheduling, site access, and engineer attendance.
Run more than one site? We keep a central register of every pressure system, its Written Scheme, its examination dates, and any open remedial items. One list, always current.
Proof, not promises
We have worked with compressed air for 45 years. Here is what that looks like under PSSR:
- Costco Wholesale. We coordinate PSSR compliance across Costco’s UK warehouses alongside their national maintenance contract. The result: 100% examination compliance, through one point of contact. Read the case study.
- A 10 working day documentation guarantee. Your compliance pack lands on your desk fast, not “in due course”.
- 30+ multi-site clients run their national contracts through us.
No jargon, no scare tactics, no box ticking. A clear pack of paperwork that tells you what was examined, what was found, what needs doing, and when the next examination is due.
What does a PSSR inspection cost?
It depends on your system, and be wary of anyone who quotes before asking about it. The price follows three things: how many items of pressure equipment you have, how many sites you run, and which PressureSafe level you pick.
That is the point of the three levels. A single workshop with one receiver does not need the same cover as a national operation with 30 sites. You pay for the level your site needs, not a one-size package. Tell us what you run and we will price it properly.
One warning from experience. The most expensive PSSR route is the one where nothing is written down. A missed examination found during an insurer visit means rushed remedial work, awkward questions, and sometimes a stopped line while it gets sorted. A scheme with reminders costs far less than a scramble.
Not sure where you stand?
Two minutes with our PSSR gap analyser will show you. Answer a few questions about your system and see where the gaps are before anyone visits your site.
Get your PSSR inspection booked
Stop chasing paperwork between your insurer and HSE. Tell us your receiver sizes, your site count, and when your last examination was. We will come back with the PressureSafe level that fits and a clear quote.
One form. No obligation. A straight answer about what your site needs and what it costs.