Legionella Risk Assessments
Specialized water safety audits to identify, manage, and prevent the growth of Legionella bacteria within your building's water systems.
Service Overview
At Greensurv, we provide comprehensive Legionella Risk Assessments (LRA) to ensure your water systems are safe and compliant with UK health and safety laws. Legionella is a naturally occurring bacteria that can become life-threatening when it proliferates in man-made water systems like cold water tanks, hot water cylinders, and cooling towers. Under the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 and the specific ACoP L8 guidelines, every employer or person in control of a premises has a legal "Duty of Care" to assess and manage the risk of exposure to Legionnaire’s Disease. Our expert assessors conduct detailed physical inspections of your entire water infrastructure, from the point of entry to every single outlet, providing you with a robust management plan to protect your occupants and satisfy HSE requirements.
Technical System Audit and Hazard Identification
A successful assessment starts with a complete understanding of how water moves through your building. We identify "dead legs," temperature fluctuations, and areas of stagnation where bacteria are most likely to thrive.
Identifying all assets including tanks, calorifiers, showers, and external taps.
Checking that hot water is stored above 60°C and cold water remains below 20°C to inhibit bacterial growth.
Locating redundant pipework where stagnant water can act as a breeding ground for biofilm.
Evaluating outlets like showers, spray taps, and air conditioning units that can disperse contaminated water droplets.
Checking for corrosion, scale buildup, and debris in water storage tanks that provide nutrients for bacteria.
Compliance Management and Risk Mitigation
Once the risks are identified, we provide a structured framework to manage them. At Greensurv, we believe that a risk assessment is only valuable if it provides clear, actionable steps for the "Responsible Person" to follow.
Creating a customized monitoring and maintenance schedule (e.g., weekly flushing, monthly temp checks).
Taking physical water samples for UKAS-accredited laboratory testing to detect actual Legionella presence.
Producing simplified diagrams of your water system for easy identification of shut-off valves and test points.
Clarifying the roles of everyone involved in the water management chain to ensure no task is missed.
Providing a structured format for recording all future maintenance and monitoring activities.
Key Benefits
Legal Compliance
Fulfill your obligations under ACoP L8 and HSG274, protecting your business from heavy fines and legal action.
Independent Expertise
Our Greensurv assessors provide an unbiased view, ensuring you only spend money on necessary remedial works.
Life Safety
Prevent the outbreak of Legionnaire’s Disease, a severe form of pneumonia that can be fatal for vulnerable occupants.
Operational Efficiency
Regular monitoring identifies plumbing issues (like faulty thermostats) before they lead to expensive system failures.
Our Process
STEP 01
On-Site Inspection
Our technician performs a walkthrough of the entire site, testing water temperatures and inspecting the condition of all water-storing assets.
STEP 02
Risk Scoring
We calculate a risk level for your building based on the complexity of the system, the profile of the occupants, and the current maintenance standards.
STEP 03
Action Plan Development
We categorize any required improvements into "High," "Medium," and "Low" priority to help you manage your budget and safety goals.
STEP 04
Formal Report Issuance
You receive a comprehensive, easy-to-understand Legionella Risk Assessment report that is valid for 2 years (or until the system changes).
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a Legionella Risk Assessment a legal requirement for landlords?
Yes. Landlords of residential and commercial properties have a legal duty to assess and manage the risk of Legionella for their tenants.
How often should the assessment be reviewed?
Industry best practice is to review the assessment every 2 years, or sooner if there is a change to the water system or the building's use.
What is a "Dead Leg" in plumbing?
A dead leg is a length of pipe leading to a closed end or a rarely used outlet. Because the water doesn't flow, it stays warm and grows bacteria.
Do I need to take water samples every month?
Not usually. Sampling is typically only required if the risk assessment identifies high-risk conditions or if the system temperature cannot be maintained.
What is the "Responsible Person"?
This is the individual (usually the owner or manager) who has the legal authority to ensure the water safety plan is carried out correctly.