Health Risk
Legionnaires’ disease is a potentially severe form of pneumonia. Infection can occur when contaminated water droplets are inhaled from sources such as showers, taps or other water systems.
Legionella Risk Assessments
Understand and Control the Risk in Your Water System
Practical legionella risk assessments for landlords, property managers, employers and businesses across Ayrshire and Glasgow.
- Clear written findings
- Practical recommendations
- Local professional service
Better safe than sorry
What is a legionella risk assessment?
A legionella risk assessment is a systematic examination of an engineered water system. It identifies conditions that could allow legionella bacteria to grow or spread and considers who may be exposed.
The findings help the person responsible for the premises decide what controls, monitoring and remedial work are appropriate. The assessment should be reviewed when there is reason to believe it is no longer valid—for example, after significant system changes or a change in how the building is used.
Helpful information
Why legionella control matters
Identify the Risk
An assessment looks at the design, use and condition of the water system, including temperatures, stored water, little-used outlets and people who may be more vulnerable.
Control Measures
Recommendations may include temperature monitoring, flushing little-used outlets, descaling showerheads, cleaning tanks, remedial plumbing work or sampling where appropriate.
A practical approach
Key parts of legionella compliance
Risk assessment
Responsible person
Temperature monitoring
Outlet flushing
Showerhead descaling
Tank inspection
Remedial works
Record keeping and review
Who has responsibilities?
Landlords, employers and those in control of premises
People responsible for premises and water systems have duties to identify foreseeable risks and put suitable controls in place. The exact approach should be proportionate to the building and its water system.
There is no universal legal requirement for every landlord to carry out routine legionella water sampling or obtain a certificate. Testing may be recommended when the risk assessment or control programme indicates it is needed.
Questions and answers
Common legionella questions
Can legionella be contracted from a shower?
Legionella can grow in suitable parts of a water system. If contaminated water is dispersed as a fine spray, droplets may be inhaled. Proper temperature control, cleaning, flushing and maintenance help manage the risk.
Must landlords routinely test water for legionella?
No. Landlords must assess and control the risk, but routine water sampling is not automatically required in every domestic property. Sampling should be used where a competent assessment identifies a need.
How often should an assessment be reviewed?
There is no single fixed interval suitable for every property. Review it when there are significant changes, control measures are no longer effective, the system changes, or there is reason to think the assessment is no longer valid.
Need advice?
Book a legionella risk assessment
Call TP Plumbing & Gas Services to discuss the property and arrange a suitable appointment.