Does it apply?
Where there is a pressure vessel that contains steam or has a pressure x volume product of 250 bar litres or more it applies. To work this out, look at the vessel capacity and multiply this by the maximum safety pressure on the pressure relief valve.
Most dental compressors have a safety valve between 8 – 10 bar. You can confirm this with your engineer or compressor supplier.
If the tank size is 25 litres or less, then the bar litre will not be above 250 (10 x 25). Most 1 and 2 surgery compressors are not above 250 bar litres but larger 3+ surgery compressors are.
If they are equal to, or above 250 bar litres, then they must comply to the PSSR 2000 regulation.
A common myth is that insurance companies MUST carry out the statutory examinations of your pressure vessel (commonly known as insurance inspections). This is not the case. Best practice is for an independent and impartial body to provide this service.
What is PSSR 2000?
This is a regulation set by HSE to ensure your compressed air system is safe, and that it remains so.
You need to ensure that a suitable written scheme of examination is in place before the system is operated. You also need to ensure that the pressure system is actually examined in accordance with the written scheme of examination.
There are two elements to the Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR 2000)
– WSE (written scheme of investigation) should be done on installation.
– Inspections (PVI) are required every 12 months, after installation, or as regularly as the WSE requires it.
If a compressor has neither a WSE or had an inspection, then both must be done initially.
A WSE is a document that details all the information for the equipment such as make, model, serial numbers, age, working pressure, etc and it also sets the frequency for the inspections. This needs to be reviewed every 24 months to make sure that nothing has changed, however when you use our system it reviews the WSE automatically at the same time as the inspections are completed.
Once a WSE is in place, inspections are then required in accordance with the scheme (usually annually). This is where you will inspect the items documented within the WSE, test valves, gauges, thickness levels etc.
The inspection report will then demonstrate that the equipment is safe to use for another 12-month period or will flag or recommend any issues/changes required.
How regularly do I need it done?
Once a WSE is in place, then usually annually, each compressor needs retesting to ensure its safety.
