Abstract: A method for testing a spring-loaded safety valve includes ascertaining a closing pressure of the safety valve by selecting a pressure of a medium acting on a closing device of the safety valve to be less than an expected closing pressure. The closing device is lifted with a force originating at an auxiliary lifting device by acting upon a chamber below a lifting bell in the lifting device with an auxiliary medium. Then the safety valve is closed by diverting the auxiliary medium out of the chamber and simultaneously a supply of auxiliary medium is passed through the chamber and diverted. Pressures of the medium and of the auxiliary medium are measured as the safety valve is closing. The closing pressure is determined from the measured pressures, from an effective area ratio of the lifting bell and a valve plate of the closing device, and from a constant, in accordance with the equation:P.sub.S =P.sub.P +(P.sub.H .multidot.V.sub.A)/(m+1),wherein P.sub.S is the closing pressure of the safety valve, P.sub.