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Introduction As a facilities manager, one of your core responsibilities is keeping your building’s water systems safe, compliant, and free from harmful bacteria. Legionella  is one such risk. It can cause serious illness, including Legionnaires’ disease , if left unmanaged. If your premises include any water systems, you are legally required to carry out a legionella risk assessment  in line with the Health and Safety Executive’s (HSE) Approved Code of Practice (ACoP L8) . Th

If you manage a building with hot water systems, you’ve almost certainly come across the term TMV . It stands for Thermostatic Mixing Valve , a small but crucial device that protects users from scalding and supports water safety compliance. Whether you look after a care home, a school , or a commercial office, understanding TMVs – and keeping them properly maintained – is an essential part of facilities management. In this guide, we’ll explain what TMVs do, the difference bet

TMV Valve Thermostatic Mixing Valves , commonly known as TMVs , are critical safety components in plumbing and water systems. Designed to blend hot and cold water to a safe, controlled temperature, TMVs are widely used in commercial, healthcare, educational, and residential settings. Their primary purpose is to prevent scalding injuries  while ensuring that water systems remain legionella-compliant . In this article, we’ll explain what TMV valves do, how they work, where they

As a facilities manager, you know how important water hygiene compliance is - not just for ticking boxes, but for protecting the health of your building users. If you’ve recently had a Legionella risk assessment , you may be looking at a list of recommended remedial works. The big question is: do you tackle just the high-risk items now, or sort the entire system in one go? This guide explores the pros and cons of both approaches to help you decide which is right for your site

Pair of flexi hoses under a sink The Overlooked Risk Inside Flexi Hoses Flexible braided hoses, or flexi hoses, are a familiar sight in commercial plumbing. Whether they’re used to connect sinks, taps or appliances, their flexibility and ease of installation make them a popular choice. However, what many facilities managers don’t realise is that the very materials inside these hoses can create the perfect environment for Legionella bacteria to grow. Legionella pneumophila, t

COVID-19 has changed how commercial buildings are used. While full closures were a short-term disruption, the long-term shift toward hybrid and remote working has resulted in a quieter, less consistently used built environment. For facilities managers, this poses a subtle but serious problem: water systems that are underused or intermittently operated can become breeding grounds for Legionella bacteria . Understanding this ongoing risk and how to manage it is now more importa

What Is a Legionella Risk Assessment? A Legionella risk assessment is a comprehensive evaluation of water systems within a building to identify and manage the risk from the proliferation of the Legionella bacteria . Legionella bacteria can cause Legionnaires' disease , a severe form of pneumonia contracted by inhaling contaminated water droplets. The assessment aims to pinpoint potential sources of Legionella growth and implement control measures to mitigate associated risks

A Sudden Health Crisis in the Heart of Sydney In April 2025, Sydney’s busy Central Business District (CBD) became the centre of a serious public health investigation. Twelve people contracted Legionnaires’ disease after spending time in the city between March 13 and April 5. Tragically, one man in his 50s passed away, while several others were hospitalised with severe pneumonia-like symptoms. Notably, the cases were unconnected-the individuals did not know each other-which s