Legionella monitoring and management

At Franks Portlock, we provide tailored solutions to help manage legionella risks and maintain compliance through routine monitoring, inspections and maintenance. Get in touch to find out more about how we can help.

A legionella written scheme of control sets out the measures required to manage and control the risks of exposure to legionella bacteria. Separate from the legionella risk assessment, a written scheme is required by law and is outlined in guidance documents such as the Health and Safety Executive’s ACOP L8 guidance, Legionnaires’ disease: The control of legionella bacteria in water systems.

A legionella written scheme often includes an up-to-date plan of the system, instructions for the operation of the system, precautions to be taken to control the risk of exposure to legionella and details of the checks that are to be carried out (and their frequency) to ensure that the scheme is effective.

To control Legionella in water, manage temperatures by storing hot water at 60°C or above and keeping cold water below 20°C where practicable. Remove redundant pipework to prevent stagnation, ensure all water tanks are the correct size and regularly clean and monitor the system.

A competent person should be appointed to ensure legionella control measures are carried out effectively and comply with the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations.

We also offer legionella awareness training where we provide an introduction to legionella, the route of infection, how to assess the risk and necessary control measures.

To meet legionella compliance, you first need to undertake a legionella risk assessment to identify any potential risks deriving from your water system. Following this, remedial works are necessary to remove and manage risks, such as tank disinfection, temperature control measures and more. 

Ongoing legionella monitoring and management are then necessary to ensure the water system continues to be safe.