Gas Safe Pressure Systems – Inspection, testing, maintenance, design, installation & modification of gas and cryogenic piped systems

What is a Written Scheme of Examination and why do I need one?

A Written Scheme of Examination may be viewed as a user manual for your Pressure System / Piped System or cryogenic storage vessel. It defines how it functions, its safe operating limits and, among other things, how often (and how) it needs to be inspected – the HSE refers to this as an ‘examination’.

ANY pressure system / piped system or cryogenic storage vessel that is within the scope of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR) must legally have a Written Scheme of Examination – you can not operate without one.

A Written Scheme of Examination has to be drawn up by a Competent Person, or by the owner of the system or vessel and certified as suitable by a Competent Person. The Written Scheme may alternatively be drawn up by the manufacturer.

Owners of any equipment that falls within the scope of PSSR 2000 must have a planned scheme for inspections (examinations) of the relevant parts of the system, these parts are detailed in the Written Scheme. The owner of the equipment must ensure that the examinations are conducted by a Competent Person at the intervals identified in the scheme.

If a system has not been examined (inspected) and the date for the scheduled examination has passed, the system must not be used until an examination has been carried out.

The typical contents of a Written Scheme of Examination include:

The name and address of the owner and user
The Safe Operating Limits for the system or vessel
A detailed schematic diagram, using British Standard / ISO graphic symbols
A detailed pipe-work drawing
The items to be examined - including all protective devices
The operating limits of the specified items to be examined
The methods of examination (inspection) and their intervals
An alphanumeric identification system to individually identify items
A section for the documentation of revisions to the system and the Written Scheme
Documented proof of compliance to the regulations – examination reports and certificates

Gas Safe can produce a Written Scheme of Examination for your pressure system / piped system or cryogenic storage vessel – click here for more information.

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