Health & Safety

Legionella risk assessments built around the water system

ACOP L8 expects a written assessment of the water system, not the building in general. Gaffer records which systems are present — hot and cold water, cooling towers, spa pools, fountains, fire suppression — and the specific risk conditions: dead legs, low turnover, calorifiers and storage temperatures.

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How legionella risk assessments work in Gaffer

One assessment per premises, itemising the systems present and the conditions that let legionella multiply.

Systems, itemised

Hot water, cold water, cooling towers, spa pools, fountains and fire suppression are each recorded, because the control measures differ completely between them.

The actual risk conditions

Dead legs, low turnover, calorifier presence and hot water storage temperature — the specific things that turn a water system into a hazard.

Premises-level record

Assessments sit against the premises name, address and type, so a landlord or facilities customer can be given exactly the record for their building.

What you get

Legionella assessments sit with your water hygiene logs and site records, so assessment and monitoring stay together.

  • Assessment reference, premises name, address and premises type
  • Hot water, cold water, cooling tower, spa pool, fountain and fire suppression systems flagged
  • Water temperature at-risk and low-turnover risk conditions
  • Dead legs present and calorifier present recorded explicitly
  • Hot water storage temperature captured as a value
  • Assessment date and review date with expiry surfacing
  • Linked to the job and site, and to ongoing water hygiene logs

Common questions about legionella risk assessments

Who needs a legionella risk assessment?

Any duty holder responsible for premises with a water system that could create and disperse breathable droplets — which covers most commercial premises, landlords and many domestic rental properties. ACOP L8 and HSG274 set out what a suitable assessment covers.

How does this differ from the water hygiene log?

The assessment establishes the risk and the control scheme; the water hygiene log is the ongoing monitoring evidence — temperatures, samples and remedial actions. Gaffer holds both, linked to the same site, because an assessment without monitoring is not a control scheme.

How often must it be reviewed?

The usual guidance is at least every two years, and immediately if the system, its use or the occupancy changes, or if the control scheme is not working. Each assessment carries a review date that surfaces before it lapses.

Can I produce a copy for the customer?

Yes. The assessment is a record against the premises, so it can be produced for the landlord, managing agent or duty holder who needs to evidence their own compliance.

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