How often do pressure systems need to be examined?
- 2tasks
- 4sources
- checked on
- Englandscope
As often as the written scheme of examination says. The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 require a written scheme, drawn up or certified by a competent person, to be in place before the system is used, and the scheme sets the examination interval for each part.
What to do, and how often
| Task | How often | Who | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Have a written scheme of examination drawn up or certified by a competent person | No fixed intervalOne-off, before first use; keep the scheme under review | User of the installed system (or owner of a mobile system) | Law Regulation 8 of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 prohibits operating the system without a written scheme. SourcesS1S3 |
| Examination of the system by a competent person in accordance with the written scheme | No fixed intervalInterval is set by the written scheme for each part of the system | Competent person (often an engineering inspection body) | Law Regulation 9 of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 requires examination within the intervals specified in the scheme. The regulations do not fix the interval. SourcesS2S4 |
The law
Regulations 8 and 9 of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 require the user of an installed pressure system to have a written scheme of examination and to have the system examined by a competent person within the intervals the scheme specifies. The regulations do not set a universal interval.
The standard
No British Standard sets the interval. HSE's Approved Code of Practice L122 and leaflets INDG261 and INDG178 explain the regulations.
Records to keep
- The written scheme of examination
- The competent person's report of each examination
- Records of repairs or modifications
- Maintenance records (routine maintenance is separate from the statutory examination)
Notes
HSE's guidance gives steam boilers as an example of a system that needs a written scheme. Whether other plant is in scope depends on its contents and pressure, so ask a competent person. HSE describes the examination as being like an MOT: a statutory check, not a substitute for routine maintenance.
Who delivers this in the group
Not a group service
This is not delivered by an AMPM Group company. It is listed because building managers need the whole picture.
Questions people ask
Pressure systems (written scheme of examination): which tasks are legal requirements?
Every task on this page rests on legislation: have a written scheme of examination drawn up or certified by a competent person (one-off, before first use; keep the scheme under review); examination of the system by a competent person in accordance with the written scheme (interval is set by the written scheme for each part of the system).
Pressure systems (written scheme of examination): who should carry out each task?
User of the installed system (or owner of a mobile system): have a written scheme of examination drawn up or certified by a competent person. Competent person (often an engineering inspection body): examination of the system by a competent person in accordance with the written scheme.
Pressure systems (written scheme of examination): what records should you keep?
Keep these records: the written scheme of examination; the competent person's report of each examination; records of repairs or modifications; maintenance records (routine maintenance is separate from the statutory examination).
Sources
Every task and legal statement is supported by at least one source fetched over HTTPS and read on the date shown. Quotes are verbatim and 25 words or fewer. A second, independent verification pass re-fetched every source and re-read the legislation on 5 October 2026. Intervals taken from British Standards were checked against published summaries of those standards by trade bodies and government guidance, because the standards themselves are paid publications.
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Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, regulation 8: Written scheme of examination ↗
legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“unless he has a written scheme for the periodic examination, by a competent person”
Supports: Legal duty to have a written scheme before the system is operated
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legislation.gov.uk (The National Archives) · Revised text as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“are examined by a competent person within the intervals specified in the scheme”
Supports: Legal duty to have the system examined within the intervals in the scheme
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Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) web page ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Page as shown on 5 October 2026 · read on
“a written scheme of examination (WSE) must be in place, and an examination undertaken”
Supports: HSE summary of the duty
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Pressure systems: A brief guide to safety (INDG261 rev2) ↗
Health and Safety Executive · Published November 2012 · read on
“The written scheme must specify the nature and frequency of examinations”
Supports: The scheme sets the nature and frequency of examinations