What is Required for Legionella Compliance? A Complete Guide

If you’re responsible for managing a building, understanding what's required for Legionella compliance is crucial. Legionella bacteria can thrive in water systems and cause Legionnaires’ disease, a potentially fatal form of pneumonia. To protect public health and remain compliant with the law, businesses and property managers must follow a clear set of steps — starting with a Legionella risk assessment.

A breakdown of Legionella compliance in six steps.

1. Legionella Risk Assessment

A Legionella risk assessment is the first and most critical step in achieving compliance. This involves a detailed inspection of your water systems such as hot and cold-water tanks, pipework, showers, taps, and cooling towers — to identify potential areas where Legionella bacteria could grow.

The risk assessment must be:

·        Conducted by a competent person i.e an industry expert or qualified risk assessor.

·        Reviewed regularly, especially after changes to the water system

·        Documented clearly, highlighting risks and actions needed

·        A proper Legionella risk assessment provides the foundation for all other compliance activities.

2. Legionella Policy

Every business or duty holder must have a Legionella policy in place. This document outlines your organisation’s approach to preventing Legionella risks and ensures responsibilities are clearly assigned.

What should a Legionella policy include?

·        A statement of commitment to Legionella control

·        The roles of responsible persons (e.g., Duty Holder, Responsible Person)

·        Procedures for managing risks and actions identified in the risk assessment

·        It’s not just about having the policy — it must be actively followed and regularly updated.

3. Written Scheme of Control

A Written Scheme of Control (WSOC) is a legally required document that details how you will manage and monitor the risks identified in your assessment. It should clearly outline the control measures in place and how these will be implemented.

A good WSOC includes:

·        Step-by-step procedures for routine monitoring

·        Control measures (e.g., temperature checks, flushing of outlets)

·        Emergency procedures if Legionella is detected

·        The written scheme forms the day-to-day action plan to keep your water system safe.

4. Legionella Training

Proper Legionella training is vital to ensure that staff understand their roles in preventing Legionella. This is particularly important for individuals assigned as Duty Holders or Responsible Persons.

Legionella training should cover:

·        Understanding Legionella bacteria and how it spreads

·        The legal duties under health and safety law

·        How to carry out checks, record data, and respond to issues

·        Training should be kept up-to-date and be appropriate to the level of responsibility.

5. Routine Monitoring and Management Tasks

Once your policy and scheme of control are in place, routine monitoring and management tasks must be carried out regularly. These are essential to maintaining safe conditions and demonstrating compliance.

Examples of routine tasks include:

·        Monthly temperature checks at sentinel outlets

·        Quarterly showerhead cleaning and descaling

·        Regular inspection of cold-water storage tanks and hot water cylinders

·        Recording and reviewing data logs

·        All tasks should be clearly documented and stored for auditing purposes.

6. Remedial Work

If your Legionella risk assessment identifies issues — such as dead legs in pipework, poor water turnover, or inadequate insulation — remedial work must be completed promptly.

Typical remedial actions include:

·        Removing redundant pipework

·        Installing thermostatic mixing valves

·        Replacing or upgrading tanks and cylinders

·        Improving insulation or flow rates

·        Failure to carry out remedial work puts people at risk and may lead to legal penalties.

Legionella compliance isn't a one-off job — it's an ongoing commitment. From a robust Legionella risk assessment to routine tasks and training, every step plays a crucial role in protecting health and meeting legal duties.

If you need support achieving compliance, professional Legionella services can help ensure your building stays safe, legal, and well-managed.

Need a Legionella Risk Assessment?

If you’re unsure where to begin or need a professional assessment, contact our expert team today to schedule your Legionella risk assessment and get expert guidance on achieving full compliance.