How safe is your commercial coffee machine?

We've put together some useful advice for businesses, in particular users of installed commercial coffee machines, and owners of mobile equivalents.

You must not allow a pressure system to be operated unless the equipment has a written scheme of examination (WSE) prepared by Coffee machine a competent person (CP), and examination is being carried out by a CP in accordance with that WSE. This is a requirement of the Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 (PSSR).

What commercial coffee machines are covered by PSSR 2000?

The system requires a ‘relevant fluid’ to be present, which in the case of a coffee machine is ‘steam’. Steam has a special status within the regulations as steam systems are in scope at ‘any pressure’ and ‘any volume’. Coffee machines incorporating a steam boiler in any workplace are therefore in scope of PSSR 2000 and are classed as a minor system.

What is a competent person?

Someone qualified to incorporated engineer level, and if an in-house employee, is impartial.
Someone with adequate knowledge of the relevant law, codes of practice, examination / inspection techniques and an understanding of the effects of operation for the system concerned so that they can identify any defects or weaknesses.
Someone able to make an assessment of the significance of these defects and weaknesses in terms of the integrity and safety of the equipment.
Someone with access to specialist services and a reasonable document storage and retrieval system.

What should a written scheme of examination include?

identification of the items of plant or equipment within the system
those parts of the system which are to be examined
the nature of the examination required, including the inspection and testing to be carried out on any protective devices
the preparatory work needed for the item to be examined safely
where appropriate, the nature of any examination needed before the system is first used
the maximum interval between examinations
the critical parts of the system which, if modified or repaired, should be examined by a competent person before the system is used again
the name of the competent person certifying the WSE and the date of certification.

Remember, an examination in accordance with a WSE is like an MOT and is designed to ensure your pressure system is safe. It is NOT a substitute for regular and routine maintenance. Records of maintenance, repairs & operator training should be available on site.

Further information can be found here.

Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000 - Approved Code of Practice (HSE)