Fracino · 1 group
Fracino Bambino (BAM2E) — PSSR examination & servicing
Bambino (BAM2E) machines are used in boutique delis, dessert bars, kiosks and small retail 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 £405 + VAT with the service included.
Quick answer
Does a Fracino Bambino (BAM2E) 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
- £405
The machine
Why the Bambino (BAM2E) matters to the Fracino owner
Extremely common in compact spaces like boutique delis and small dessert bars.
In practice you will find it in boutique delis, dessert bars, kiosks and small retail — 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
- £405
- Certified safety valve, if it fails
- £52 + 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
- Small single-boiler machines are the fastest examinations we carry out — usually inside an hour, before opening.
- Compact footprints often mean tight access; a photo of the machine's position when you book saves time on the day.
- 2-group traditional machine with thermosyphonic heat exchangers in a copper boiler. BAM2E (and the 3V luxury editions) lists a 10 L boiler, 2.85 kW/13 A, 535 x 580 x 500 mm, 55 kg; the compact BAM2E-C is 4 L, 2.4 kW/10 A. Electronic BAM2E has a 5-button keypad with four preset doses plus override; semi-auto BAM2 uses a rocker switch. Current model; parts book v1.0 dated 10/2023. Not a PID machine.
Verified boiler data
What is actually inside this machine
| Configuration | Steam boiler |
|---|---|
| 2 group compact (BAM2E-C) | 4.0 L |
| 2 group Ivori / Luxury | 10.0 L |
Manufacturer's published boiler capacities. Where a maker publishes no figure we say so rather than estimate.
Service interval. Fracino specifies regular servicing at least once a year (frequency set by use and water hardness) and an annual Boiler Test Inspection under the HSE PSSR Act 2000. Fracino Service's own schedule is a first service after year one, then an e
Fault finder
What actually goes wrong on a Fracino Bambino (BAM2E)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| “ALARM TIME-OUT BOILER REFILLING” and all keypad LEDs flashing | The machine did not reach the level probe inside the refill time. The manual notes this can simply be a large draw-off in one go, but if it repeats the water supply is usually off. | Power-cycle to reset. If it returns, check the supply — Fracino warn that running without water damages the high-pressure pump and voids its warranty. |
| “ALARM FLOW METER GROUP X” with the button LED flashing | The PCB sees no pulses from that group's flowmeter. Fracino list five causes: a blank filter left in the holder, coffee ground too fine, a wire off or bad connection at the flowmeter, a blocked group or failed group solenoid, or crossed wires at the PCB. | Work the list in order. The machine turns that group off automatically after a minute without pulses. |
| Boiler will not refill and the pump runs continuously | A blocked non-return valve, so the pump keeps running against a closed circuit. | Strip and clean or replace the non-return valve. |
| Machine trips at temperature — PID models | Fracino's PID alarms trigger at 140 °C, and the high-limit safety stat trips at 115 °C. | Reset the high-limit stat and find why it overheated before resetting. |
| Display reads "ALARM FLOW METER GROUP X" and the LED above the selected key flashes; after about a minute that group is switched off. | The PCB is not receiving pulses from that group's flowmeter. Fracino's own list: blank filter left in the handle, coffee ground too fine, wire off or bad connection at the flowmeter, blocked group or group solenoid not working, or flowmeter wires crossed on the PCB. | Remove the blank filter and coarsen the grind first, then check the flowmeter plug and wiring, clean the group jet and test the group solenoid. If no signal returns within one minute the machine disables that group by design. |
| All keypad LEDs flash and the display reads "ALARM TIME-OUT BOILER REFILLING"; the machine will not heat. | The boiler did not reach the level probe within the set refill time. Often it is simply a large draw-off, but it can be the water supply turned off or a restricted fill circuit. | Switch off, wait 2 seconds, switch back on to reset the cycle. If it repeats, check the mains water tap, inlet filter and fill solenoid. Fracino warns that running with the water supply off damages the internal high-pressure pump and invalidates the pump warranty. |
| After programming, one keypad button does nothing when pressed. | The electronic board recorded a zero because it saw no flowmeter pulses while that button was programmed: blank filter fitted, flowmeter plug off, turbine jammed with debris, no water flowing (blocked jet, dead group solenoid, water off), or flowmeter input/output wires crossed. | Re-programme with a normal filter basket, then check flowmeter connections and that the turbine spins; confirm water flows through the group and the group solenoid opens. |
| Display shows "H2O FILTER" and the machine keeps prompting. | The programmed water-volume counter for the filter cartridge has been reached. | Replace the filter cartridge, then reset the counter by pressing the double ristretto and double normale/lungo buttons together; the display shows "RESET H2O FILTER COUNTER...WAIT" and returns to "SELECT DRINK FRACINO". |
These are faults documented for this model, not a generic list.
Common parts
Common parts for the Fracino Bambino (BAM2E)
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Filter holder washer, 8.5 mm (8.0 mm and 9.0 mm also listed) | FC104/8.5 | Group seal that wears fastest; causes the handle to creep past centre and weep. |
| Group gasket | FC101 | Second seal in the group stack; replaced with the filter-holder washer. |
| Shower plate | FC103M | Scales and scores; replaced whenever the group is stripped. |
| Group jet filter | FC130 | Restricts and blocks in hard water, giving slow or uneven shots. |
| Flowmeter | FC92COM-17 | The part behind the flow-meter alarm; one per group. |
| Group solenoid valve | FC125A-LLB | Coil/valve that fails or clogs and produces the no-delivery side of the flow-meter alarm. |
Questions
Bambino (BAM2E) 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 Fracino Bambino (BAM2E)?
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 £405 + VAT, which is what most boutique delis, dessert bars, kiosks and small retail 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 Fracino Bambino (BAM2E) need examining?
The Written Scheme of Examination sets the interval, and for a commercial machine used in boutique delis, dessert bars, kiosks and small retail 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 Fracino Bambino (BAM2E) 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 Fracino machines covered
Call and we'll price your Bambino (BAM2E) 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.