Crem & Expobar · 1 and 2 group
Crem & Expobar EX3 — PSSR examination & servicing
EX3 machines are used in neighbourhood cafés, small restaurants and bars nationwide. The engineer carries out the statutory PSSR examination, the front-end service and the water treatment on this model — a standalone examination is £265 + VAT, or £440 + VAT with the service included.
Quick answer
Does a Crem & Expobar EX3 need a PSSR examination?
Yes, if it operates in a workplace. It carries a single steam boiler with its own protective devices, which is the pressure system in scope. Steam is a relevant fluid under PSSR 2000 and steam systems are covered at any pressure and any volume, so the boiler must have a Written Scheme of Examination and be examined periodically by a competent person.
- Examination only
- £265
- With service
- £440
The machine
Why the EX3 matters to the Crem & Expobar owner
A highly customizable, contemporary option growing fast in neighbourhood cafés.
In practice you will find it in neighbourhood cafés, small restaurants and bars — which shapes what the examination looks like on site: how the machine is accessed, how long it can be offline, and how much scale it has accumulated.
On the day
- The steam boiler is drained and inspected internally with an endoscope for scale, corrosion and weld condition.
- The safety valve, anti-vac valve and fittings are checked and tested.
- The pressure gauge is verified against our calibrated test gauge, not against itself.
- A single compact boiler drains and refills quickly, which makes this the shortest appointment we book.
- The Written Scheme of Examination names the vessel and the protective devices it covers.
Typical rates for this model
- Standalone PSSR examination
- £265
- Service + PSSR bundle
- £440
- Certified safety valve, if it fails
- £35 + VAT
- Water filter, fitted on a visit
- from £107
- Grinder calibration & deep clean
- £89
- If it does not pass
- Explained in writing
All prices exclude VAT. A single steam boiler with one set of protective devices to examine. We confirm the exact figure on the call.
Filters are fitted on site by an engineer and are not posted out. The filter price applies when ordered with a PSSR examination, service, call-out or water test; booked alone it is charged at the standard call-out.
What we see on this model
- Highly configurable builds mean two EX3s can differ — we ask for the boiler and group specification when you book.
- Contemporary styling often means the machine is visible from the bar, so we leave the area as we found it.
- Crem/Expobar 2-group traditional machine with Smart Steam. Codes [AL1], [AL2], [AL3], [FiL], [Eco], [oFF], [SEr] are the machine's own, from the EX3 user manual. The Smart Steam air circuit (peristaltic pump plus 24 V Smart Steam unit/solenoid) is the model-specific extra versus a plain HX machine.
Verified boiler data
What is actually inside this machine
| Configuration | Steam boiler |
|---|---|
| 2 group - CONTROL, CONTROL TA, DISPLAY, DISPLAY TA (all four published variants carry identical technical figures) | 11.5 L |
Manufacturer's published boiler capacities. Where a maker publishes no figure we say so rather than estimate.
Service interval. Counter-driven: [SEr] service alarm shows a static message on group 1. Reset by holding K1+K2 while switching the machine on (the display shows [rSE]); the water-filter alarm resets with K3+K4 ([rFi]). Crem publishes no calendar interval.
Fault finder
What actually goes wrong on a Crem & Expobar EX3
Owners usually call us with a symptom, not a diagnosis. This is what that symptom most often turns out to be on this machine, and what putting it right involves.
| Symptom | Usual cause | What fixes it |
|---|---|---|
| Machine locks out - all touchpad buttons blink and nothing can be dispensed | boiler/group NTC probe short-circuited (AL1) or not connected (AL2) | check the NTC plugs and loom, replace the probe - the manual marks these 'call a service technician'. |
| One group doses nothing, or the selected button just blinks, during service | no flow detected on that group - flowmeter not pulsing (scale, wiring, or grind so fine there is no flow) | clean or replace the flowmeter, check the loom, correct the grind. |
| Machine shuts the elements down and all buttons blink, a reset is needed | steam-boiler fill timeout - no water reaching the boiler (mains off, inlet filter blocked, or the inlet fill solenoid) | power-cycle, restore water, then test or replace the inlet fill solenoid. |
| Espresso temperature drops off badly or groups stop delivering water | heat-exchanger outlet pipes and water system clogged with limescale | descale or rebuild the HX circuit and correct water treatment. |
| Water under the machine | drain tube blocked with grounds or pulled off the drain cup | clean the drain cup and tube and re-fit. |
| Smart Steam wand stops frothing or froths erratically, steam wand weak | the Smart Steam air circuit - peristaltic air pump and its 24 V control unit/solenoid, which Crem has revised | clean the nozzle first, then replace the peristaltic pump and Smart Steam solenoid as a set. |
| [AL1] machine blocked and all touchpad buttons blink. | NTC (temperature probe) short-circuited. | Crem marks this 'call a service specialist to replace it' - replace the NTC probe and check its loom. |
| [AL2] machine blocked and all touchpad buttons blink. | NTC not connected - unplugged or broken probe lead. | Re-seat the NTC connector; replace the probe if the alarm persists. |
| [AL3] selected button blinks and the brew has to be stopped by hand; nothing is dispensed. | No flow detected on that group - flowmeter not pulsing (scale, wiring, or grind so fine there is no flow). | Correct the grind, then clean/replace the flowmeter and check the loom. |
| [FiL] machine blocked, all buttons blink; needs a power cycle. | Steam boiler filling timeout - no water reaching the boiler (mains off, inlet filter blocked, fill solenoid failed). | Switch off and on again, check the machine is receiving water, then test/replace the fill solenoid. |
These are faults documented for this model, not a generic list.
Common parts
Common parts for the Crem & Expobar EX3
The components most often replaced on this machine, listed by reference number, as a reference for engineers and owners identifying a part.
| Part no. | Description |
|---|---|
| #2102 | Parker 3 Way Grp Solenoid Valve 24v (Plus 3 housings in) |
| #2841 | Element Protection Thermostat - Original |
| #0398 | Lucifer 3 Way Grp Solenoid Valve 230v (Ruby) |
| #18281 | Parker 3 Way Solenoid Valve 24v |
| #0450 | PARKER 3 WAY GRP SOLENOID VALVE 230V (RUBY) |
| #23371 | PARKER 2 WAY INLET SOLENOID VALVE 230V |
| #29950 | PARKER 3 WAY SOLENOID VALVE 24V |
| #0020 | Pump Head Rotoflow |
| #0093 | Sirai Pressure Switch |
| #1497 | Parker Pressure Switch |
| #1578 | Solenoid O Rings Bag Of 100 |
| #1586 | Shower Plate 52 X 5mm |
Parts most often needed on this model
| Part | Number | What it fixes |
|---|---|---|
| EX3 display keypad | 60101502 | Keypad/display unit - dead buttons or blank display. |
| 3d5 XLC control PCB (Gicar 9.5.32.01G01) | 60100410 | Main control board used across EX3/Onyx/Zircon; board faults give dead or erratic groups. Crem warns PCBs from other suppliers may not carry the correct software. |
| NTC temperature probe | — | AL1/AL2 are both NTC circuit faults. |
| Flowmeter | — | AL3 no-flow - meter, wiring or grind. |
| Smart Steam peristaltic air pump | — | Smart Steam wand stops frothing or froths erratically; Crem issued TSB#480 standardising the peristaltic pump. |
Questions
EX3 questions, answered
How a boiler of this size is examined, how often, and who carries the duty — see the complete PSSR guide.
0208 037 9340
How much does a PSSR examination cost on a Crem & Expobar EX3?
A standalone examination is £265 + VAT, because a single steam boiler with one set of protective devices to examine. Combined with a front-end service it is £440 + VAT, which is what most neighbourhood cafés, small restaurants and bars choose, since the boiler has to be drained for the examination either way. We confirm the exact figure on the call.
How often does a Crem & Expobar EX3 need examining?
The Written Scheme of Examination sets the interval, and for a commercial machine used in neighbourhood cafés, small restaurants and bars it is typically 12 to 14 months. A single boiler on this duty normally sits at the middle of that range unless the water is hard, which we test on the day and report with the certificate.
How long does a Crem & Expobar EX3 examination take, and what happens on the day?
A single compact boiler drains and refills quickly, which makes this the shortest appointment we book. The visit runs: the steam boiler is drained and inspected internally with an endoscope for scale, corrosion and weld condition. the safety valve, anti-vac valve and fittings are checked and tested. The gauge is then verified against our calibrated test gauge, the system is pressure tested and held, and the machine is re-assembled, refilled, heated and function tested. The Written Scheme of Examination, signed report and asset record follow within 48 hours.
Other Crem & Expobar machines covered
Call and we'll price your EX3 on the spot.
Same-week appointments nationwide, the Written Scheme of Examination issued within 48 hours of the visit, and a fixed price agreed before we travel.