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Pressure Systems
Deterioration, leaks, abnormal operation, an examination finding or a proposed alteration can require attention. Establish the system boundary and substance contained before selecting the task. Pressure alone does not provide a complete description of the hazards or the legal arrangements applying to an installation.
Discuss your requirementsDefined services, clearly scoped.
What the work can include
Work covers the agreed assessment, maintenance, preparation and remedial activities for the identified system. The instruction distinguishes equipment care from examinations and decisions reserved to the appropriate competent person. Records connect completed work to the equipment, operating information and outstanding examination or repair actions.
The instruction identifies the service boundaries and the information expected at completion. Any additional finding receives a clear next action, so a completed visit does not hide work still required elsewhere in the system.
Important technical decisions
The Pressure Systems Safety Regulations apply to qualifying systems containing a relevant fluid, subject to their scope and exceptions. HSE identifies steam at any pressure and gases under pressure among relevant fluids. Do not assume that every pressurised water loop has identical written-scheme requirements.
Where required, a suitable written scheme of examination must be in place and examinations completed in accordance with it. Routine servicing does not replace that process. Changes to equipment or operating conditions must be considered against the system information and the examination arrangements before the system is returned to use.
Assessment and preparation
Provide equipment details, drawings, operating limits, the written scheme and examination reports where applicable. Identify outstanding defects and the competent person's requirements. Agree isolation, access and shutdown arrangements with the people responsible for the system and affected operations.
Reliable asset references help connect the survey, quotation and completion record. Share existing documents even where they are incomplete, and identify known changes so the assessment can establish which information still describes the installed arrangement.
How the work proceeds
We establish the system and the required maintenance or remedial instruction, coordinating with the relevant examination requirements. Work proceeds under the agreed isolation and access arrangements. Handover records the completed task, any changed equipment details and the actions still needed before use.
For a wider site programme, we agree the sequence, reporting and escalation route with the operational team. Each completed task remains linked to its asset, with follow-up work separated into immediate actions and planned improvements.
Cost, timing and disruption
System type, condition, access, examination preparation and the extent of remedial work affect cost. Depressurisation, cooling and dismantling can influence the programme. Agree the separate responsibilities for examination, maintenance and authorising use so the schedule includes each necessary step.
Identify critical operating periods and any available standby arrangement when requesting a proposal. The work plan must reflect the actual service remaining during shutdown, rather than assume that another installed item can automatically carry the full load.
Sector applications
Offices need plant operation aligned with working hours. Industrial premises need process dependencies and equipment duty understood. Education needs shutdowns coordinated with teaching, while hospitality needs occupancy and essential services considered together. Our complete service and project offering supports all sectors, with the technical brief based on the actual installation and use.
Local coverage
We cover Northumberland, Tyne and Wear, County Durham and Tees Valley, including Berwick-upon-Tweed, Alnwick, Morpeth, Hexham, Newcastle, Gateshead, Sunderland, Durham, Darlington, Hartlepool, Stockton-on-Tees and Middlesbrough. View all locations.
For several sites, provide separate equipment schedules, access contacts and operating restrictions. A shared reporting approach still needs a clear local instruction.
Frequently asked questions
Does every pressurised water system require the same examination?
No. Applicability depends on the equipment, fluid and regulatory scope. Assess the actual system rather than apply a rule based only on a pressure gauge.
Is an annual service a written-scheme examination?
No. They have different purposes. Where examination is required, it must follow the suitable written scheme.
Can a component be changed without updating records?
The change must be considered against system suitability, operating information and applicable examination arrangements. Keep records consistent with the installed equipment.
Can maintenance and examination be coordinated in one shutdown?
They can be planned together, but retain their distinct scopes, competence requirements and records. The examination requirements should inform the preparation programme.
Knowledge and guidance
Read mechanical plant maintenance and explore maintenance contract scope. Official guidance provides relevant technical context. Browse the Knowledge Centre for related system and maintenance information.