DOSH Machine Registration Malaysia: PMT, PMA and Certificate of Fitness Requirements

You've just installed a new air compressor in your factory. The receiver tank is there, the system is running, production is moving. Then a DOSH officer visits and asks for the Certificate of Fitness. You don't have one. The compressor's receiver tank is an unfired pressure vessel, and operating it without a CF is an offence under OSHA 1994. The fine? Up to RM500,000.

This guide explains which machines need DOSH registration in Malaysia, how to get a Certificate of Fitness (CF), and what happens if you operate without one.

This guide covers:

• What PMT, PMA, and PMD mean and which machines require each
• The Certificate of Fitness (CF) process under P.U.(A) 99/2024
• Registration steps, documents, and fees
• CF renewal timelines and inspection requirements
• How machine registration connects to machinery breakdown insurance

What are PMT, PMA, and PMD?

These are the three categories of plant machinery that require DOSH registration and a Certificate of Fitness (CF) before they can legally be operated in Malaysia.

Category	Malay Term	Equipment Types
PMT	Perakuan Mesin Tekanan	Unfired pressure vessels: air receivers, heat exchangers, autoclaves, reactors, LPG storage tanks
PMA	Perakuan Mesin Angkat	Lifting equipment: cranes, hoists, gondolas, passenger lifts, goods lifts
PMD	Perakuan Mesin Dandang	Steam boilers: fire-tube boilers, water-tube boilers, steam generators

Since 1 June 2024, the legal basis for these requirements changed. The Factories and Machinery Act 1967 (FMA 1967) was repealed and replaced by provisions under the amended OSHA 1994. The specific regulation governing CF is now the Occupational Safety and Health (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024, known as P.U.(A) 99/2024.

The practical impact: PMT, PMA, and PMD are still widely used terms in the industry, but the official legal term is now "Certificate of Fitness" (Perakuan Kelayakan) under OSHA 1994. DOSH officers and forms still reference PMT, PMA, and PMD, so you'll encounter both terminologies.

Which machines need a Certificate of Fitness?

Equipment	CF Required?	Category
Air compressor receiver tank	Yes (if above exemption threshold)	PMT
Autoclave	Yes	PMT
Heat exchanger	Yes (if pressurised)	PMT
Overhead crane	Yes	PMA
Jib crane / monorail hoist	Yes (if electrically operated)	PMA
Passenger lift / goods lift	Yes	PMA
Steam boiler	Yes	PMD
Forklift	No (separate licensing under DOSH)	N/A (see forklift licence guide)

The exemption threshold for unfired pressure vessels (PMT): vessels with an internal diameter of 6 inches (152mm) or less are exempt under the Factories and Machinery (Exemption of Certificate of Fitness for Unfired Pressure Vessel) Order 2017. But here's what catches many factory managers: even a standard workshop air compressor typically has a receiver tank larger than 6 inches in diameter.

Certificate of Fitness registration process

Stage	When	Action Required
1. Design approval	Before procurement/import	Submit design drawings and calculations to DOSH HQ (Putrajaya)
2. Permit to Install (PTI)	Before installation begins	Submit JKJ 105 and JKJ 106 forms to DOSH state office
3. Installation	After PTI approval	Install per approved design; prepare inspection documents
4. Initial inspection	After installation complete	Request inspection from DOSH or licensed inspection body
5. CF issuance	After passing inspection	Pay fees and receive Certificate of Fitness

Documents needed for registration

Document	Applies To
Design drawings (GA drawings)	All plant types
Design calculations	Pressure vessels (PMT), boilers (PMD)
Material certificates	All plant types
Welding procedure specifications	Fabricated vessels
NDT reports (UT, RT, MPI, DPI)	As required by design code
Hydrostatic test certificates	Pressure vessels, boilers
Load test certificates	Lifting equipment (PMA)
Safety valve certificates	Pressure vessels, boilers

CF validity and renewal

A Certificate of Fitness is valid for 15 months. Not 12 months, not 1 year. 15 months. Mark the expiry date and start the renewal process at least 2 months before it expires.

Item	Detail
CF validity period	15 months from date of issuance
Renewal process	Service/maintenance → periodic inspection → DOSH renewal
Who inspects	DOSH officer or authorised licensed inspection body
Special Scheme of Inspection (SSI)	For qualifying facilities: CF can extend up to 60 months via risk-based inspection

Since June 2024, the Minister can authorise licensed persons (inspection bodies) to conduct plant inspections and issue Certificates of Fitness. This means you're no longer exclusively dependent on DOSH officers for inspections, which has reduced wait times in some states. Verify that your chosen inspection body has valid DOSH authorisation.

Fees for DOSH machine registration

Fees are set by regulation and vary by equipment type and capacity. These are indicative ranges:

Plant Type	Fee Range (RM)	Basis
Unfired pressure vessel (PMT)	RM350 - RM1,500	Cubic capacity
Steam boiler (PMD)	RM500 - RM2,500	Heating surface area
Lifting machinery (PMA)	RM350 - RM2,000	Safe working load (SWL)
Passenger lift	Based on capacity	Number of persons

Design approval fees are separate and paid to DOSH Headquarters. The inspection fee is also separate from the CF issuance fee. Budget for 3 fee payments per machine: design approval, inspection, and CF issuance.

Penalties for operating without a CF

Offence	Penalty (post-June 2024)
Operating plant without CF	Fine up to RM500,000 or imprisonment up to 2 years or both
Operating with expired CF	Same as operating without CF
Failure to make machinery available for inspection	Fine up to RM100,000

The post-June 2024 penalty regime is significantly harsher than the old FMA 1967 penalties. Under the old Act, maximum fines were RM50,000. Under OSHA 1994 (Amendment 2022), they've increased tenfold.

Insurance implications of DOSH-registered machinery

Your DOSH registration status directly affects your insurance coverage. Here's how:

Situation	Insurance Impact
Machine has valid CF	MB insurance covers internal mechanical/electrical failure. BPV insurance covers explosion and collapse.
Machine CF has expired	Insurer may void or reduce claim under breach of statutory compliance condition
Machine was never registered	Claim likely denied. You also face DOSH penalties on top of the uninsured loss.
Machine breaks down during production	MB covers repair/replacement costs. MLOP covers lost production profits during repair period.

Fire insurance doesn't cover machinery breakdown from internal causes. If your CNC machine suffers an electrical burnout, that's not a fire insurance claim. You need dedicated machinery breakdown insurance. And if that breakdown stops your production line, you need MLOP (Machinery Loss of Profits) to cover the revenue gap.

FAQ

What does PMT stand for?

PMT stands for Perakuan Mesin Tekanan, which is the Certificate of Fitness for unfired pressure vessels. This includes air receiver tanks, heat exchangers, autoclaves, and other pressurised containers. Since June 2024, the official term under OSHA 1994 is "Certificate of Fitness" (Perakuan Kelayakan), but PMT remains widely used in practice.

What does PMA stand for?

PMA stands for Perakuan Mesin Angkat, the Certificate of Fitness for lifting equipment including cranes, hoists, gondolas, passenger lifts, and goods lifts. Like PMT, the official term is now "Certificate of Fitness" under the 2024 regulations, but PMA is still used on-site and in industry communications.

Do air compressors need DOSH registration?

The air compressor motor doesn't need CF registration. But the air receiver tank (the pressure vessel that stores compressed air) does, unless it has an internal diameter of 6 inches (152mm) or less. Most industrial compressors have receiver tanks above this threshold, so yes, they typically need registration.

How long is the CF valid?

The Certificate of Fitness is valid for 15 months. Renewal requires a periodic inspection by a DOSH officer or authorised licensed inspection body. Start the renewal process at least 2 months before expiry to avoid operating with an expired certificate.

Can I use a private inspection body instead of DOSH?

Yes. Since June 2024 under P.U.(A) 99/2024, the Minister can authorise licensed persons (inspection bodies) to conduct inspections and issue Certificates of Fitness. Verify the inspection body's DOSH authorisation before engaging them. The inspection report must still be submitted to DOSH.

What's the difference between PMT, PMA, and PMD?

PMT covers unfired pressure vessels (tanks, heat exchangers). PMA covers lifting equipment (cranes, hoists, lifts). PMD covers steam boilers. Each has different documentation requirements and inspection procedures, but all follow the same CF process under P.U.(A) 99/2024. For a detailed guide on pressure vessel registration and steam boiler registration, see our dedicated articles.

Does machinery breakdown insurance require a valid CF?

Most machinery breakdown and BPV insurance policies include a condition that the insured machinery complies with applicable regulations. Operating without a valid CF means you're in breach of OSHA 1994, which gives the insurer grounds to dispute or deny a claim. Keep your CFs current to protect both your compliance status and your insurance coverage.

What is the Special Scheme of Inspection (SSI)?

SSI allows qualifying facilities to conduct risk-based inspections instead of the standard 15-month CF cycle. If approved by DOSH, your CF validity can extend up to 60 months. This is typically for facilities with multiple pressure vessels or boilers and robust in-house inspection capabilities. It requires a formal application and risk assessment approval from DOSH.

Foundation Conclusion

DOSH machine registration isn't optional. Every pressure vessel, lifting machine, and steam boiler in your factory needs a valid Certificate of Fitness. The penalties for non-compliance have increased tenfold since the 2024 regulatory changes, and the insurance implications are just as serious.

Getting your CF in order is the compliance side. Getting the right insurance is the financial protection side. Machinery breakdown insurance covers what happens when equipment fails from internal causes. BPV insurance covers explosion and collapse. Neither fire nor IAR covers these risks. If your factory runs on registered machinery, you need both compliance and coverage.

Talk to our risk specialists about machinery breakdown and BPV insurance

Disclaimer: This article provides general guidance on DOSH machine registration based on OSHA 1994 (Amendment 2022) and the Occupational Safety and Health (Plant Requiring Certificate of Fitness) Regulations 2024 [P.U.(A) 99/2024] as of March 2026. Regulations, fees, and processes may be updated. Always verify current requirements with DOSH or a qualified inspection body before making compliance decisions.