What Happens During a Legionella Risk Assessment?
Your Behind-the-Scenes Guide to Staying Compliant and Keeping People Safe
If you’re a building manager, landlord, or duty holder, you’ve probably heard that you’re legally required to conduct a Legionella risk assessment. But what exactly does that involve?
At Irrigonics Limited, we know that uncertainty often leads to delay—and delay increases risk. So here’s a straightforward, behind-the-scenes look at what really happens during a Legionella risk assessment, and why it’s one of the smartest steps you can take for compliance, safety, and peace of mind.
What Is a Legionella Risk Assessment?
A Legionella risk assessment is a legal requirement under the Health and Safety at Work Act and ACOP L8 (Approved Code of Practice).
It’s a systematic inspection of your water systems designed to identify areas where Legionella bacteria could grow and spread—especially in warm, stagnant water.
What Does the Assessment Include?
Here’s exactly what to expect when one of our qualified water hygiene specialists visits your site:
1. Site Walkthrough & System Identification
We start with a full walkthrough of your premises to locate every part of your water system that could present a risk, including:
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Cold and hot water tanks
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Calorifiers (water heaters)
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Showers and taps
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Thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs)
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Dead legs or rarely used outlets
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Cooling towers (if applicable)
This helps us map how water moves through your building—and highlight where it might stagnate.
2. Temperature Monitoring
Next, we test water temperatures throughout the system. Legionella bacteria thrive between 20–45°C, so maintaining the right temperatures is critical.
We check:
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Incoming cold water (should be below 20°C)
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Hot water outlets (should reach at least 50°C, or 55°C in healthcare)
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Distribution and return loop temperatures
This confirms whether your system is operating within safe limits.
3. Inspection for Physical Risks
We visually assess the condition of your system, looking for physical risk factors such as:
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Limescale or sediment in tanks
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Corrosion or biofilm build-up
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Exposed or poorly insulated pipework
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Redundant pipework (“dead legs”)
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Rarely used outlets
Any issues are documented, photographed, and ranked by risk level so you know exactly what to prioritise.
4. Control Measures Review
We review your current control regime to ensure you’re actively managing Legionella risks. This includes checking:
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Regular flushing routines
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Temperature and monitoring records
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Maintenance schedules for TMVs and tanks
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Water sampling (if part of your plan)
If you don’t yet have a control scheme in place, we’ll design one for you after the assessment.
5. Documentation & Recommendations
Once the site visit is complete, we provide:
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A full Legionella Risk Assessment report
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A schematic drawing (where required or opted for)
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Clear recommendations ranked by priority
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Guidance on how to stay compliant with ACOP L8 and HSG274
We explain everything in plain English—no jargon, no guesswork.
How Long Does It Take?
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Typical site visit: 2–5 hours (depending on building size)
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Report delivery: 7–14 working days
Our specialists work discreetly, safely, and with minimal disruption to your day-to-day operations.
Why It Matters
A Legionella risk assessment isn’t just a compliance exercise—it’s about protecting people. An unchecked system can lead to serious illness, reputational damage, and even prosecution.
We don’t just inspect; we help you manage your water systems with confidence.
Ready to Stay Compliant and Keep People Safe?
If you’re unsure when your last assessment was—or if your site is compliant—now’s the time to act.
📞 Call Irrigonics Limited today or visit www.irrigonics.co.uk to book your Legionella risk assessment.
Protect your people. Stay compliant. Sleep easier.
Legionella Risk Assessment Quotation
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