Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.

PSSR stands for the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000.

While LOLER is about lifting and PUWER is about general machinery, PSSR is specifically designed to prevent the risk of injury from the stored energy in pressure systems. If a pressurised vessel or pipe fails, the resulting "blast" or release of contents can be catastrophic.

A "pressure system" typically includes:

• A Relevant Fluid: This isn't just liquid; it includes steam at any pressure, gases under pressure, or fluids which are artificially kept under pressure and become gases when released.
• The Equipment: The protective devices, pipework, and the pressure vessels themselves (like air receivers or boilers).

The law places strict duties on the user (the person operating the equipment) and the owner:

• Safe Operating Limits: You must clearly establish the maximum and minimum temperatures and pressures the system can safely handle.
• Written Scheme of Examination (WSE): This is the "rulebook" for how the system will be inspected. It must be drawn up or certified by a Competent Person.
• Thorough Examinations: Just like a LOLER inspection, the system must be formally inspected in accordance with the WSE.
• Maintenance: The system must be properly maintained to prevent danger.

• Air Compressors: If the facility has a pneumatic system to power tools or door operators, the air receiver (the tank) falls under PSSR.
• Hydraulic Systems: While PSSR generally excludes "simple" hydraulics (which use incompressible liquids), it does apply if the system uses a gas-loaded accumulator (a common component in elevator and forklift hydraulics used to smooth out pressure).
• Steam Lifts: In older or specialised industrial settings, steam-powered equipment would be a major PSSR focus.

Unlike a mechanical failure in a forklift (PUWER), a failure in a pressure system can involve a "BLEVE" (Boiling Liquid Expanding Vapor Explosion). PSSR ensures that safety valves and pressure gauges are calibrated and that the structural integrity of the vessels is verified before they become "bombs."