How often must a pressure vessel be tested in Germany?

If a ZÜS tests it, at most every 2 years externally, every 5 years internally and every 10 years for strength (Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5.8, Table 1 BetrSichV). If a qualified person may test it, the employer sets the interval, at most 10 years (No. 5.9).

Who decides whether a ZÜS or a qualified person tests?

Tables 2 to 11 and Table 12 of Annex 2, Section 4 assign responsibility by volume, pressure and fluid group; without such an assignment the ZÜS tests (No. 6). In-house inspection bodies of companies may be approved for installations under Section 4 (Section 1, No. 2).

When must the interval be set?

No later than six months after the pressure installation is put into service (Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5.4).

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Keep pressure vessel inspection dates on track

German pressure vessels that an approved body (ZÜS) must test get an external inspection at least every 2 years, an internal one every 5 and a strength test every 10 (BetrSichV Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5.8); unheated and simple vessels skip the external one (No. 5.6). A test is on time up to two months after due.

Annex 2, Section 4 of Germany's Industrial Safety Regulation (BetrSichV) covers pressure installations: steam boiler installations, pressure vessel installations, gas filling installations and certain pipelines for hazardous fluids (No. 2.1). They and their components must be tested before first use, after changes that require testing, and periodically (Nos. 4.1 and 5.1). As a rule an approved inspection body (zugelassene Überwachungsstelle, ZÜS) carries out the tests; depending on volume, pressure and fluid group, Tables 2 to 11 or Table 12 allow a qualified person (zur Prüfung befähigte Person) to test instead (No. 6).

Periodic testing of components consists of an external inspection, an internal inspection and a strength test (No. 5.5). For pressure vessels that a ZÜS must test, the maximum intervals are 2 years for the external inspection, 5 years for the internal inspection and 10 years for the strength test (No. 5.8, Table 1). The external inspection may be omitted for pressure vessels that are not fired, exhaust-gas heated or electrically heated, and for simple pressure vessels (No. 5.6). Where a qualified person may test, the employer sets the interval, at most ten years; the strength test can be extended to 15 years if safe operation is demonstrated (No. 5.9).

The interval for the pressure installation itself may not exceed ten years (No. 5.3) and must be determined no later than six months after it is put into service (No. 5.4). The due date is given as month and year; a test is on time up to two months after it. For intervals longer than two years, an early test restarts the interval from its own month only if it took place more than two months before the due date (Section 14(5) in conjunction with Section 16(3)).

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At a glance

Component (tested by a ZÜS)	External inspection	Internal inspection	Strength test
Steam boilers (Table 2)	1 year	3 years	9 years
Pressure vessels (Tables 3 to 6)	2 years (may be omitted under No. 5.6)	5 years	10 years
Simple pressure vessels (Table 7)	Not required	5 years	10 years
Pipelines (Tables 8 to 11)	5 years	Not required	5 years

Maximum intervals under Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5.8, Table 1 BetrSichV. For 30 special types of installation, such as refrigeration and heat pump systems, expansion vessels, cylinders for breathing apparatus or pressure vessels of fire extinguishers, the rules of No. 7, Table 12 apply. Simple pressure vessels with a pressure-volume product of no more than 50 bar · litre are not covered by the section (No. 2.1).

Who is responsible?

The employer ensures that the installation is tested periodically and sets the intervals in the risk assessment without exceeding the maximum intervals (Section 16(1), Section 3(6) BetrSichV). The result is recorded; if a ZÜS tests, the employer obtains a test certificate. Records and certificates are kept at the place of operation for the entire period of use (Section 17(1)). Each periodic test also checks whether the intervals were set correctly; in case of dispute the authority decides (Section 16(2)).

If the deadline passes

It is an administrative offence to fail, intentionally or negligently, to ensure that the installation is tested as required by Section 16(1) in conjunction with Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5 (Section 22(2) no. 7 BetrSichV). Anyone who persistently repeats such an intentional act, or thereby endangers another person's life or health or third-party property of significant value, is liable to prosecution under Section 33 of the Act on Installations Subject to Monitoring (Section 23(2)). Steam boiler installations that have been out of service for more than two years may only be restarted after their steam or hot water generators have had an internal inspection (Annex 2, Section 4, No. 4.1).

Example: expansion vessels

Expansion vessels in heating and cooling systems with water or heating medium temperatures up to 120 degrees Celsius are tested by a qualified person; no external inspection is required, and the internal inspection and strength test each have a maximum interval of 10 years (Annex 2, Section 4, No. 7.3, Table 12).

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add each pressure vessel and enter each type of test as its own entry, meaning external inspection, internal inspection and strength test, each with the month shown on the last test certificate.
Reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the day itself.
The inspection body or qualified person can upload the test certificate through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person to each installation, such as the maintenance team; emails arrive in each recipient's language. If a date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often must a pressure vessel be tested in Germany?: If a ZÜS tests it, at most every 2 years externally, every 5 years internally and every 10 years for strength (Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5.8, Table 1 BetrSichV). If a qualified person may test it, the employer sets the interval, at most 10 years (No. 5.9).
Does every pressure vessel need an external inspection?: No. It may be omitted for pressure vessels that are not fired, exhaust-gas heated or electrically heated, and for simple pressure vessels (No. 5.6).
Who decides whether a ZÜS or a qualified person tests?: Tables 2 to 11 and Table 12 of Annex 2, Section 4 assign responsibility by volume, pressure and fluid group; without such an assignment the ZÜS tests (No. 6). In-house inspection bodies of companies may be approved for installations under Section 4 (Section 1, No. 2).
When must the interval be set?: No later than six months after the pressure installation is put into service (Annex 2, Section 4, No. 5.4).

Sources

Last checked: Sep 30, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for pressure vessel external inspection (BetrSichV) (Germany)

A ready template for pressure vessel external inspection (BetrSichV) (Germany) with sensible validity defaults, so you enter less and track more.

Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each pressure vessel external inspection (BetrSichV) (Germany) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each pressure vessel external inspection (BetrSichV) (Germany) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.