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Pressure Systems Safety Regulations 2000, Regulations 8 and 9 (written scheme of examination; examination in accordance with the written scheme)

Written Schemes of Examination for dental compressors

A written scheme of examination is a document that specifies which parts of a pressure system are to be examined, the nature of the examination and how often it must take place. Under PSSR 2000 the user must not operate a qualifying system unless a written scheme has been drawn up or certified as suitable by a competent person.

Jurisdiction
England
Last verified
9 September 2026
Next review
9 March 2027
Version
1

In plain English

A written scheme of examination is a document that specifies which parts of a pressure system are to be examined, the nature of the examination and how often it must take place. Under PSSR 2000 the user must not operate a qualifying system unless a written scheme has been drawn up or certified as suitable by a competent person.

The scheme is not a certificate and not a one-off event. It is the standing plan against which examinations are then carried out. After each examination the competent person issues a report of examination stating what was examined, what was found, any repairs required and when the next examination is due.

For a dental compressor, the scheme typically covers the air receiver and its safety devices. The competent person is usually an engineering inspection body, and many practices reach one through their insurer. Whether a particular compressor needs a scheme depends on its pressure and receiver volume: see the topic on PSSR 2000.

Who does what

Your responsibility as the provider

  • Establishing which pressure systems in the practice need a written scheme (compressors with receivers above the exemption threshold, and steam sterilisers)
  • Appointing a competent person and having the scheme drawn up or certified before the system is used
  • Arranging the examination at the intervals the scheme sets, and not letting the date lapse
  • Making the system available and accessible for examination
  • Reading the report, acting on any defects before the system is used again where the report requires it, and keeping the records
  • Reviewing the scheme when the system is modified or replaced

What Dynamo Dental delivers directly

Dynamo Dental keeps routine compressor servicing distinct from the written scheme. A service report from us is not a report of examination. What we do is:

  • Recording on the asset register whether a written scheme exists for each compressor, who holds it and when the next examination falls due, so the date is visible to the practice
  • Carrying out routine servicing, and any repairs the competent person's report calls for on compressor components within our competence, and recording that work separately
  • Recording rated pressure and receiver volume for new and existing compressors, which the competent person needs when deciding whether and how the scheme applies
  • Coordinating a competent person on the practice's behalf where the practice asks us to, so that servicing and examination visits can be planned together
  • Telling the practice plainly when we see that a scheme or examination appears to be missing or overdue

Verified specialist competence, or a specialist partner

  • Drawing up or certifying the written scheme: competent person only
  • Carrying out the examination and issuing the report of examination: competent person only
  • Repairs to pressure-containing parts identified in a report: as directed by the competent person, and re-examined where the report requires it
  • Steam sterilisers: written scheme and examination through a competent person, usually alongside the decontamination engineer who validates the equipment

Outside our scope

  • Acting as the competent person, or issuing any document that could be mistaken for a written scheme or report of examination
  • Deciding on behalf of the practice whether a scheme is required: we record the facts and the practice confirms with its competent person
  • Written schemes for equipment we do not maintain

Questions

Questions on this topic

Who can draw up a written scheme of examination?

A competent person, as PSSR defines the term. For a dental compressor this is normally an engineering inspection body with the relevant expertise and independence, and many practices arrange one through their insurer. Dynamo Dental is not a competent person for this purpose and does not draw up schemes.

Our compressor was serviced last month. Does that mean the examination is done?

No. A service and an examination are separate. The service keeps the compressor working to the manufacturer's schedule and produces a service report. The examination checks the pressure-containing parts against the written scheme and produces a report of examination from the competent person. Check the date on the last report of examination, not the service report.

Other topics

Not sure what records you should have?

The Practice Engineering Survey establishes what exists and what is missing, without claiming to be an audit.

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