Legionella Control for Commerce

The commercial sector includes a broad range of business activities including offices and call centres, workshops, warehousing and distribution centres.

All commercial properties employing 5 people or more are required to have a written control scheme and legionella assessment to comply with the requirements of:

• ACoP L8 and the associated guidance set out in HSG274 Parts 2 and 3 and HSG274 Part 1 if the property has a cooling tower

Building use ranges from small low risk office space with simple domestic water systems to large business and warehousing complexes with large tank fed systems. More recent builds are likely to include rainwater harvesting, solar energy and heat pump systems.

Effective legionella control in smaller properties is relatively straight forward, particularly so if the water systems are fed directly from the mains. In larger buildings however increased water system complexity requires expertise and experience.

Key factors for legionella control include:

• The correct installation and operation of tank fed systems
• Effective temperature control (particularly in the case of solar and heat pump systems)
• Heat gain and loss in long distribution pipework
• Low use outlets
• Showerhead cleaning and disinfection
• Other risk systems and vehicle washing facilities

Watertec provides risk assessment and other legionella control services to some of the largest warehousing and distribution centres in the UK where we work alongside client maintenance and health and safety teams to deliver effective legionella control.