Espresso Machine PSSR 2000 Inspection & Testing

What is PSSR 2000?

The Pressure System Safety Regulations introduced in the year 2000 state a requirement for all equipment storing energy at a pressure of over 0.5 bar to be tested regularly by a competent person. A competent person is someone who has the knowledge and expertise to assess and produce a written scheme of examination for your equipment. For further information, please see https://www.hse.gov.uk/pressure-systems/pssr.htm

Will my coffee machine need a PSSR Inspection?

As all commercial espresso machines store steam at a pressure exceeding 0.5 bar, so if you own an espresso machine, it will be subject to inspection.

Why should I bother? No-one has ever checked.

Not having a valid inspection and written scheme of examination (ie. failing to meet the regulations) is an offence and could lead to very undesirable consequences should an accident occur…

If your premises is damaged, destroyed or if your staff or customers are injured due to a failure of the espresso machine, as the user of the equipment you will be personally liable to prosecution and fines for negligence. Limited Company protection will not absolve you of your duties.

Insurance policies cannot cover businesses that are operating outside the law and as a consequence any claims against property or public/employers liability insurance will not be valid if the cause is related to an untested espresso machine. Please see the The Health and Safety at Work act 1974 for further information.

How do I become compliant?

To become compliant, your espresso machine must be inspected by a competent person every 14 months and the findings recorded and stored securely.

Coffee Clinic are official representatives of EspressTest, the UK’s leading PSSR 2000 inspection company for espresso machines. This means that our engineers can carry out the examination on-site, resolve any problems and complete all the paperwork required to be compliant in one session.

It sounds complicated and therefore expensive.

As our engineers are fully conversant with the requirements of the inspection and carry all the equipment necessary for testing, an inspection can be carried out in approximately 1 hour in most cases. Our current price for the inspection and all documentation is £180 + VAT (for customers outside of our usual service area, there may be an additional travel charge)

What happens if my machine fails the inspection?

Outright failure is extremely rare because our inspectors are also engineers meaning any issues with the machine can generally be resolved at the same time as the inspection. In cases where there are issues which do not present an immediate danger that cannot be resolved on the day, the inspection can be deferred until the machine is brought up to compliant standards. In the unlikely situation that the machine is in a state where it is unsafe to operate we take a safety first approach and will decommission the machine and explain what needs to be done.

Why can an espresso machine be dangerous?

Espresso machines contain a pressure vessel needed to generate steam for the machines steam wands. This steam is stored at a pressure generally within the range of 1 - 2 bar according the the manufacturers design. Sometimes faults can occur with the vessel itself or with the components that regulate this pressure and the safety devices designed to prevent dangerous pressures being reached. If a boiler exceeds the pressure it was designed for, it presents a severe risk.

When water is converted to steam it expands at a ratio of 1600:1 - this means that 1 litre of water becomes 1600 litres of steam under pressure. For comparison, TNT has an expansion ratio of approximately 2000:1 meaning steam has ⅘ of the explosive power of TNT.

Aside from the obvious danger of pressurised steam, Espresso Machines also draw a large amount of electrical current and as we all know, electricity and water do not mix well. Any amounts of water or steam escaping the hydraulic system in a way that could bring it into contact with electrical components has the potential for electrical failure and possibly fire.