Boilers carry some of the strongest inspection duties of any pressure equipment, because the consequences of failure are severe. Whether fired or waste-heat, attended or unattended, a boiler needs periodic internal and external in-service inspection by a competent person to AS/NZS 3788, and the records have to be kept.
What good practice looks like
- Periodic internal and external inspection by a competent person, with operational tests
- A certificate or report confirming the boiler is safe to operate before it returns to service
- Records kept for hazard-level A, B and C equipment under AS 4343
- Relief valves checked and periodically set-pressure tested through accredited partners
How often
Typical intervals are external inspection around yearly and internal inspection around every two years, adjusted for the boiler and its condition, and confirmed against the current edition of AS/NZS 3788. Boiler programs also run day-to-day and weekly operational checks and periodic water treatment — so a boiler is effectively a year-round compliance item, not a set-and-forget one.
A note on operator licensing
Operating some smaller boilers no longer needs a high-risk-work licence — but that's about who may operate the boiler, not whether the boiler itself needs inspecting. The inspection duty on the plant is separate, and it still applies.
Not sure where your equipment stands?
Send a photo of the equipment and its nameplate and we'll tell you plainly under AS 4343 — free, no obligation.
Common questions
- How often does a boiler need to be inspected?
- Typically external inspection around yearly and internal around every two years to AS/NZS 3788, adjusted for the specific boiler and confirmed against the current edition of the standard.
- Do I need a licence to operate a small boiler?
- Licensing for boiler operation has been relaxed for some smaller boilers, but that's separate from the plant's own inspection duty, which still applies. Check the current requirements for your equipment.
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This guide is general information, not legal or engineering advice. Inspection requirements depend on your specific equipment and jurisdiction; confirm against the current edition of the applicable standard. Speqo supplements but does not replace your own duty-holder obligations.