A man examining pipework within an industrial building

Equipment Condition & Performance Surveys

Turning data into actionable insight

Engineering Consultancy Services

Key benefits

Reduce unplanned downtime

Increase asset lifespan

Achieve significant energy savings

Unplanned equipment downtime can be a significant drain on resources, productivity, and your bottom line, and is often the result of unseen issues that are gradually developing beneath the surface.

The service

Our equipment condition and performance surveys offer a proactive solution, combining cutting-edge technology with our in-house Engineering Consultants' deep expertise to give you a true picture of your assets' health. We don't just inspect; we diagnose and predict, helping you move from a reactive approach to a predictive, more resilient maintenance strategy.

Reduce unplanned downtime

A key benefit of our surveys is the ability to drastically reduce unexpected and costly breakdowns. By proactively identifying failing components or developing faults well in advance, you can schedule maintenance and repairs at a time that minimises disruption to your operations. This eliminates the financial impact of lost productivity, emergency repair costs, and potential safety incidents.

Increase asset lifespan

Replacing critical plant and machinery is a major capital expense. Our surveys help you get the most out of your existing assets by enabling a proactive maintenance approach. When you address minor issues early, you prevent them from escalating into major failures that require premature replacement. This not only extends the operational life of your equipment but also protects your initial investment, providing a tangible improvement in the return on your maintenance budget. You can ensure your assets last longer and perform better.

Achieve significant energy savings

Many of the issues our surveys uncover, such as faulty components or inefficient operation, have a direct and measurable impact on energy consumption. A malfunctioning motor or a faulty bearing can draw more power than necessary, leading to wasted energy and higher utility bills. Our detailed reports highlight these inefficiencies, providing you with clear recommendations on where to focus your efforts for maximum energy savings. Our Thermography and IoT services, in particular, can quickly identify areas of energy loss, making our surveys an investment that pays for itself over time.

Our flexible approach uses a variety of advanced techniques to pinpoint potential failures before they occur:

Visual examination: Our engineers perform a thorough on-site inspection, looking for visible signs of wear and tear, corrosion, or operational stress.
Record review: We review your equipment’s maintenance history and records to identify any recurring issues or patterns that might indicate a deeper problem.
Vibrational analysis: By measuring the vibrations of rotating machinery, we can detect early signs of component failure in motors, bearings, and gearboxes.
Infrared thermography: Our thermal imaging surveys identify abnormal heat signatures that can reveal issues like electrical faults, fluid leaks, or excessive friction.
IoT sensors: For a truly continuous picture, we can deploy Internet of Things (IoT) sensors to monitor key equipment metrics in real-time, providing an ongoing health status of your most critical assets.

[KEEP OR DITCH?] Typical assets by industry

Education: Schools, colleges and universities

Air/oil receiver	Generator	Pump
Autoclave	Hot water heating boiler	Refrigeration plant
Calorifier	HP hot water shell boiler	Steam boiler
Catering equipment (moving/rotating parts)	Motor	Steam generator
Compressor	Pipework	Steam-heated roll/cylinder
Dust extraction (metallic/non-metallic)	Pressure vessel	Steam receiver
Gearbox	Pressurised system (fed from bottled gas)	Steam tube oven

Healthcare: Hospitals, social care homes, medical laboratories and research facilities

Air/oil receiver	Hot water heating boiler	Refrigerant pressure system
Autoclave	Ironing machine	Refrigeration plant
Calorifier	Motor	Steam boiler
Compressor	Pipework	Steam generator
Control panels	Pressure vessel	Steam receiver
Dust extraction (metallic/non-metallic)	Pressurised system (fed from bottled gas)	Steam/hot water-heated coil/battery
Garment press	Pump	Storage tank

Food and beverage processors (processing and packaging)

Air/oil receiver	Pipework	Steam-heated roll/cylinder
Calorifier	Pressure vessel	Steam receiver
Catering equipment (moving/rotating parts)	Pump	Steam tube oven
Compressor	Refrigeration plant	Steam/hot water-heated coil/battery
Generator	Steam boiler	Superheater
Hot water heating boiler	Steam-fed laundry equipment	Watertube boiler
HP hot water shell boiler	Steam generator
Motor	Steam-heated platen

Manufacturers

Air/oil receiver	Hot water heating boiler	Steam-fed laundry equipment
Autoclave	HP hot water shell boiler	Steam generator
Chemical tank/vessel	HP hot water watertube boiler	Steam-heated platen
Compressor	Motor	Steam-heated roll/cylinder
Control panels	Pipework	Steam receiver
Conveyor	Pressure vessel	Steam tube oven
Fume extraction plant	Pump	Watertube boiler
Gearbox	Refrigeration plant
Generator	Steam boiler

Property Management: Commercial, hotel and residential (high rise) properties

Air/oil receiver	Hot water heating boiler	Steam-fed laundry equipment
Catering equipment (moving/rotating parts)	HP hot water shell boiler	Steam generator
Compressor	Motor	Steam-heated platen
Dust extraction (metallic/non-metallic)	Pump	Steam receiver
Generator	Steam boiler	Steam/hot water-heated coil/battery

Recreation: Leisure centres/complexes, cinemas, theatres, exhibition/conference centres, amusement parks, stadiums, ice rinks

Air/oil receiver	Hot water heating boiler	Refrigeration plant
Autoclave	Motor	Steam boiler
Calorifier	Pump	Steam/hot water-heated coil/battery
Dust extraction (metallic/non-metallic)	Pipework
Generator	Pressure vessel

Retail: Shopping centres, food stores, wholesale/distribution centres

Air/oil receiver	Pipework	Steam generator
Conveyor	Pressure vessel	Steam-heated platen
Dust extraction (metallic/non-metallic)	Pump	Steam-heated roll/cylinder
Generator	Refrigeration plant	Steam receiver
Hot water heating boiler	Steam boiler	Steam/hot water-heated coil/battery
Motor	Steam-fed laundry equipment

What we will deliver

A desktop featuring a HSB hard hat, a laptop, and pencils

Multi-disciplinary health reports: A consolidated report combining visual, vibrational, and thermal data to provide a holistic view of asset health.
Early warning diagnostics: Identification of specific pre-failure symptoms (eg, bearing wear, misalignment) with calculated time-to-failure estimates where possible.
Actionable remedial plans: Prioritised recommendations for maintenance interventions, allowing you to transition from reactive repairs to planned shutdowns.
IoT data integration: Where applicable, setup and configuration of continuous monitoring sensors with access to real-time performance dashboards.

Why work with HSB?

What sets us apart is our unique heritage and deep specialisation, built on over 150 years' experience in engineering and risk management.

For you, this means a trusted partnership that delivers more than just a service - it's the provision of a crucial layer of assurance and confidence.

Insights

Contact

For more information on our engineering consultancy services, please contact a broker in the first instance. Alternatively, liaise with your usual HSB contact or get in touch with us via our contact form.

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