The easiest check is to perform a legionella test on your hot and cold water supplies. AquaCert have made this task so easy and inexpensive, it is the simplest way to get peace of mind.

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Having said that, Legionella testing or some other form of microbiological monitoring is not usually required for domestic hot and cold water systems, except for very specific circumstances. Care home and other facilities where residents are likely to be at high risk of infection need particular consideration. You can reference the HSG274 Part 2 regarding this.

Meanwhile, the case is different for employers and business owners. The same guidance indicates that risk assessment, prevention of exposure to hazardous substance, and control of said exposure, which all involve testing, are legal requirements of the Health and Safety at Work Act 1974. Other related legislation includes the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002 and the Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999.

Duty holders need to appoint or hire somebody who is trained in the use of Legionella testing kits for the efficient identification and assessment of Legionella risk sources. It doesn’t stop there. The same person or team will also take care of managing those risks, preventing and controlling them, keeping records, and carrying out any other related legal duties.

In relation to the domestic setup, it’s still strongly recommended that landlords carry out risk assessment and record their findings. Even if the HSE and local authority inspectors do not proactively inspect domestic premises or demand that landlords provide evidence that they have undertaken risk assessment, a formal record will come in handy in case a tenant contracts Legionnaires’ disease. It’s a way to demonstrate in court that they had fulfilled their legal duty.

Yes. This is part of the service package we provide. We will send the results certificate out to you via email and/or post. The samples need to be cultured in the laboratory for 10 days and the whole process can take about 12 to 13 days.

In addition, we will also update our database with your test results. You can have a password to view your analysis certificate online, which is helpful if you misplace or lose the certificate we send to you.

Plus, as part of the service package, you will also receive reminders via email, fax, or post regarding the schedule for your next Legionella test. You may not have the bacteria in your water now, but this is no assurance that the bacteria will not occur in your water system in the future; after all, Legionella bacteria are naturally occurring organisms.