Fracino · 1 and 2 group
Fracino Contempo Electronic — PSSR examination & servicing
Contempo Electronic machines are used in independent cafés, restaurants, bars and contract 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 £265 + VAT, or £440 + VAT with the service included.
Quick answer
Does a Fracino Contempo Electronic 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 Contempo Electronic matters to the Fracino owner
Ubiquitous across London's hospitality sector due to its competitive UK manufacturing costs.
In practice you will find it in independent cafés, restaurants, bars and contract 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 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
- £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
- British-built with a UK parts pipeline, so remedial work rarely waits on an import — a genuine advantage when an examination throws up a finding.
- Electronic variants need the control side checked as well as the vessel; we test pressure behaviour rather than trusting the panel.
- Electronic Contempo: 2-group CON2E has a 14 L copper boiler, 4 kW/20 A (2.85 kW/13 A alternative), 60/80 L/h hot water, 575 x 580 x 500 mm, 55 kg. Range is 1-4 group; CON1E 7 L, CON3E 20 L, CON4E 25 L. Four preset doses plus override; automatic group cleaning cycle on CON2E and CON3E. Current model.
Verified boiler data
What is actually inside this machine
| Configuration | Steam boiler |
|---|---|
| 1 group (CON1E) | 7.0 L |
| 2 group (CON2E) | 14.0 L |
| 3 group (CON3E) | 20.0 L |
| 4 group (CON4E) | 25.0 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
Source: Fracino official product page technical specifications table
Fault finder
What actually goes wrong on a Fracino Contempo Electronic
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. |
| "ALARM FLOW METER GROUP X" on the display with the selected key's LED flashing; the group cuts out after about a minute. | No pulses from the group flowmeter: blank filter, grind too fine, flowmeter wiring, blocked group or group solenoid, or crossed flowmeter wires on the PCB. | Clear the blank filter/grind, then check flowmeter plug and turbine, clean the group jet and test the group solenoid. |
| "ALARM TIME-OUT BOILER REFILLING" and all keypad LEDs flash. | Boiler failed to reach the level probe in the refill time; typically a large water draw, water supply off or a restricted fill. | Power-cycle (off 2 s, on). If it recurs check the water tap, inlet filter and fill solenoid; do not run with the supply off or the pump is damaged and its warranty void. |
| A keypad button stops responding after programming. | The PCB logged a zero because no flowmeter pulses arrived during programming (blank filter, loose plug, jammed turbine, no water flow, crossed terminals). | Re-programme with a normal basket and check the flowmeter circuit and water flow. |
| "H2O FILTER" warning stays on. | Filter volume counter reached. | Replace the cartridge and reset the counter with the double ristretto + double normale/lungo buttons. |
These are faults documented for this model, not a generic list.
Common parts
Common parts for the Fracino Contempo Electronic
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Heating element, 4000 W, 2 group | FC162 | Main boiler element; scaled or burnt elements are the usual heating failure. |
| Element gasket, Viton | FC165V | Replaced with every element; leaks if reused. |
| Level probe | FC191 | Scale on the probe causes over/under-filling and refill time-outs. |
| Group gasket | FC101 | Group seal wear item. |
| Filter holder washer, 8.5 mm | FC104/8.5 | Wears first; causes handle creep and group leaks. |
| Electronic water control | FC172A | The level-control module on electronic Contempo machines. |
Questions
Contempo Electronic 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 Contempo Electronic?
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 independent cafés, restaurants, bars and contract 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 Fracino Contempo Electronic need examining?
The Written Scheme of Examination sets the interval, and for a commercial machine used in independent cafés, restaurants, bars and contract sites 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 Contempo Electronic 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 Contempo Electronic 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.