Educational Establishments

A guide to inspection frequencies and applicable legislation for typical plant and equipment utilised across the UK and Ireland

Employers have a duty of care to ensure the health, safety and welfare of their employees. Periodic inspections and/or thorough examinations on their plant and equipment form part of this vital duty, whilst also ensuring employer conformity to applicable health and safety legislation.

Plant and equipment within the workplace needs to be examined and properly maintained to ensure it is safe to operate, and that it complies with applicable health and safety legislation; requiring statutory examinations at specific intervals, which exist outside normal equipment maintenance and servicing procedures.

Regular inspections may also serve as a good preventative maintenance programme to ensure the integrity of plant and equipment; helping to minimise machinery breakdowns.

Inspection frequencies

Different types and categories of equipment have varying inspection frequencies according to applicable health and safety legislation.

Typical equipment and installations found within educational establishments are listed below, together with the applicable legislation, inspection frequencies, and images.

Select a country:

UK

Lifting

Applicable legislation (1)	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)	Equipment image
Lifting Operations and Lifting Equipment Regulations 1998	Higher education or research establishments	Passenger lifts/elevators	6	Link
		Platform lift	6
		Wheelchair/stair lift	6	Link
		Window cleaning equipment/building maintenance unit	6	Link

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.

Boiler/Pressure

Applicable legislation (1)	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)	Equipment image
Pressure System Safety Regulations 2000	Schools	Model engine boiler	14
	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Coffee machine boiler	14	Link
		Catering equipment	14
		Autoclave/steam steriliser	14	Link
		Expansion vessel (used for hot water systems)	26
		Air conditioning units (>25kW)	12/60

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) Examination intervals for statutory pressure systems are dictated by a Written Scheme of Examination; a legal document that details the items within the pressure system, including protective devices, and outlines the inspection frequency and requirements.

Electrical/Mechanical Plant

Applicable legislation (1)	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)	Equipment image
Provision and Use of Work Equipment 1998	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Air conditioning units (<25kW)	12
		Hot water boiler (<100ºC)	12	Link
		General mechanical and electrical plant (e.g. motors, pumps)	12	Link
	Higher education or research establishments	Escalators	6	Link
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989	Schools	Playground equipment	12	Link

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable.

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Applicable legislation (1)	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)
The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Fume cupboard	14
		Dust extraction (metallic)	6/14 (2)
		Dust extraction (non-metallic)	14

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) 6-month frequency if used for more than 12 hours per week. Otherwise, a 14-month frequency.

Electrical Systems

Applicable legislation (1)	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (2)	Equipment image
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Low voltage electrical installations	60	Link
		Portable appliances	12

(1) For Northern Ireland, similar statutory equipment legislation is applicable. (2) The frequency of period inspection for electrical systems, installations and equipment covered by the Electricity at Work Regulations is dependent on the type and use of the installation, the quality and frequency of maintenance and any external influences which the installation may be subject to.

Ireland

Lifting

Applicable legislation	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)	Equipment image
S.I. No. 299 of 2007: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007	Higher education or research establishments	Passenger lifts/elevators	6	Link
		Platform lift	6
		Wheelchair/stair lift	6	Link
		Window cleaning equipment/building maintenance unit	6	Link

Boiler/Pressure

Applicable legislation	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)	Equipment image
S.I. No. 445 of 2012: Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) (Amendment) Regulations 2012	Schools	Model engine boiler	14
	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Coffee machine boiler	14	Link
		Catering equipment	14
		Autoclave/steam steriliser	14	Link
		Expansion vessel (used for hot water systems)	26
		Air conditioning units (>25kW)	60

Electrical/Mechanical Plant

Applicable legislation	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)	Equipment image
S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Part 3): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Air conditioning units (<25kW)	12
		Hot water boiler (<100ºC)	12	Link
		General mechanical and electrical plant (e.g. motors, pumps)	12	Link
	Higher education or research establishments	Escalators	6	Link
	Schools	Playground equipment	12	Link

Local Exhaust Ventilation

Applicable legislation	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months) (1)
Health & Safety Authority: Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) Guidance document	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Fume cupboard	12
		Dust extraction (metallic)	12
		Dust extraction (non-metallic)	12

(1) Unless specified otherwise by the manufacturer.

Electrical Systems

Applicable legislation	Premise type	Typical equipment	Inspection/thorough examination frequency (months)	Equipment image
S.I. No. 299 of 2007 (Part 3): Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (General Application) Regulations 2007	Schools and higher education or research establishments	Low voltage electrical installations	60 (1)	Link
		Portable appliances	3-60 (2)

(1) Unless specified otherwise by a risk assessment/the manufacturer. (2) A general guide dependent on location, and unless specified otherwise by a risk assessment/the manufacturer.

How HSB can help

HSB Inspection Services: Our network of competent, multi-skilled Engineer Surveyors help customers throughout the UK and Ireland to maintain workplace equipment safety, optimise the efficiency of plant and equipment, and comply with applicable health and safety legislation; covering boiler/pressure, lifting, electrical/mechanical, dust and fume extraction, power press equipment, and fixed wiring installations.

HSB Risk Management Solutions: We can help businesses to reduce risks, costs, and deliver compliance via improved analysis of their equipment and health and safety practices. Consisting of three services, each service is further split into modules, allowing customers to build them to fit their business.

HSB Inspection Services HSB Risk Management Solutions