Crem & Expobar · 2 and 3 group
Crem & Expobar ONYX — PSSR examination & servicing
ONYX machines are used in independent cafés, restaurants, offices and contract catering sites nationwide. The engineer carries out the statutory PSSR examination, the front-end service and the water treatment on this model — a standalone examination is £295 + VAT, or £500 + VAT with the service included.
Quick answer
Does a Crem & Expobar ONYX 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
- £295
- With service
- £500
The machine
Why the ONYX matters to the Crem & Expobar owner
Crem and Expobar's mainstream single-boiler range, with a high installed base across UK independents and contract catering.
In practice you will find it in independent cafés, restaurants, offices and contract catering sites — 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 3 group boiler holds more water than a 2 group, so the drain, refill and heat-up all take longer — allow the full appointment window.
- The Written Scheme of Examination names the vessel and the protective devices it covers.
Typical rates for this model
- Standalone PSSR examination
- £295
- Service + PSSR bundle
- £500
- 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. The additional drain and heat-up time a 3 group boiler needs. 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
- A single boiler with heat-exchange groups, so one pressure vessel and one set of protective devices to examine.
- The Mini and standard 2 group share a chassis family, which means the same access constraints apply across the range.
- Part numbers and layout are from the ONYX / ONYX Pro technical manual (Crem 1764279_02) electrical diagrams, so they are the machine's own references. Also listed in the same diagrams: thermal cut-out C10200141, electrovalve 1/4 x 1/4 C60000100, 3D5 XLC PCB 60100410 and touchpad 2760334. The perishable hydraulic set - group valves, pressure switch, level probe, static relay - is what a machine a few years old actually needs.
Verified boiler data
What is actually inside this machine
| Configuration | Steam boiler |
|---|---|
| 2 group | 11.5 L |
| 3 group | 17.5 L |
Manufacturer's published boiler capacities. Where a maker publishes no figure we say so rather than estimate.
Service interval. No fixed interval - Crem fits a service counter and a water-filter counter. The manual's own line is that 90% of faults come from limescale, so water treatment is the real service interval driver.
Fault finder
What actually goes wrong on a Crem & Expobar ONYX
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 |
|---|---|---|
| 'No water' warning and the machine will not brew | the machine is not receiving water - mains, filter, or inlet valve | restore supply, test and clean the inlet solenoid and filter. |
| Group will not dose, flow-meter alarm - sometimes triggered during a backflush | no pulses detected from that group's flowmeter | clean or replace the flowmeter and check the wiring. |
| Temperature-sensor alarm, boiler temperature control lost | NTC probe open circuit or disconnected | re-seat then replace the probe. |
| Cold shots, or groups stop dispensing water | limescale in the heat-exchanger outlet pipes and water system | descale or rebuild, fix water treatment. |
| Water under the machine | drain tube blocked | clean the drainage tube. |
| Water or steam leaks inside the case, weak or drifting steam pressure on a machine a few years old | the perishable hydraulic items on the ONYX build - group electrovalves, pressure switch, level probe and small-bore fittings | service-kit the group valves and pressure switch, replace the level probe if the boiler over- or under-fills. |
| 'No Water' warning; machine will not brew. | The machine is not receiving water - mains, filter, or the inlet solenoid valve. | Restore the supply, clean the inlet filter, test/replace the inlet solenoid. |
| Group will not dose; 'Flowmeter X failure / No flow detected in flowmeter X' - sometimes triggered during a backflush. | No pulses from that group's flowmeter (60100045): scale, a stuck turbine, or wiring. | Clean or replace the flowmeter, check the plug and loom. |
| Temperature-sensor fault; boiler temperature control lost. | NTC probe open circuit or disconnected. | Re-seat the connector, then replace the probe. |
| Cold shots or groups stop dispensing water; boiler scaled. | Limescale in the heat-exchanger outlet pipes and water system. | Descale or rebuild the HX circuit and correct water treatment. |
| Water under the machine. | Drainage tube blocked. | Clean the drainage tube and drain cup. |
These are faults documented for this model, not a generic list.
Common parts
Common parts for the Crem & Expobar ONYX
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Water level probe | 60100040 | Boiler level sensing; a scaled probe gives over/under-fill and no-water faults. |
| Pressure switch | 60000008 | Boiler pressure regulation on the ONYX; drift causes weak or unstable steam. |
| Static relay | 60800100 | Switches the heating element - a failed relay means no heat or permanent heat. |
| Electrovalve 220 V (GR1/GR2) | C60000112 | Group/water solenoid - no-flow and internal leaks. |
| Flowmeter | 60100045 | 'Flowmeter X failure' and a group that will not dose. |
| Rotary vane pump motor | 60000016 | Pump motor failure - no brew pressure, or tripping electrics. |
Questions
ONYX 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 ONYX?
A standalone examination is £295 + VAT, because the additional drain and heat-up time a 3 group boiler needs. Combined with a front-end service it is £500 + VAT, which is what most independent cafés, restaurants, offices and contract catering sites 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 ONYX need examining?
The Written Scheme of Examination sets the interval, and for a commercial machine used in independent cafés, restaurants, offices and contract catering sites it is typically 12 to 14 months. A 3 group boiler holds a larger volume of water, so scale accumulates faster than in a smaller machine on the same duty and the scheme usually sets the shorter interval.
How long does a Crem & Expobar ONYX examination take, and what happens on the day?
A 3 group boiler holds more water than a 2 group, so the drain, refill and heat-up all take longer — allow the full appointment window. 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 ONYX 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.