Your Trusted Partner for Legionella Risk Assessments
If you’re here, there’s a good chance you’re responsible for keeping a building’s water systems safe and compliant - and you know how serious Legionella can be.
You’re in the right place. At Titan Water, we carry out professional Legionella risk assessments for all types of buildings and water systems. Our job is to identify potential risks before they become problems, and to help you stay fully compliant with current health and safety legislation.
We take a practical, evidence-based approach. No scare tactics, no unnecessary testing - just clear, accurate advice from experienced engineers who understand how real systems behave. Whether it’s a small office or a large commercial site, we’ll help you manage Legionella risk with confidence and peace of mind.
Nationwide Service
Reliable Expertise Wherever You Are
Our experienced management team operate from the Titan head office near Liverpool, but while our roots are firmly in the North West, our reach goes far beyond it. Our engineers carry out Legionella risk assessments right across the UK, supported by a trusted network of regional specialists. Whether it’s a care home in Aberdeen, a university campus in the Midlands, or an office complex down in sunny Devon, we’ve been there – and we understand the challenges different sites face when it comes to water safety and compliance.
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If you’re due an assessment, or simply want to check your current report still meets the latest standards, the team at Titan are always happy to offer clear, honest advice.
What Is a Legionella Risk Assessment?
A Legionella risk assessment is a structured review of your building’s water systems to understand where harmful bacteria could grow and how those risks can be controlled. It involves examining how water is stored, heated, circulated and used throughout the building, along with identifying any conditions that may allow water to stagnate or sit within unsafe temperature ranges.
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For duty holders and facilities managers, the assessment gives clear visibility of how well your current controls are working and what improvements may be required. It is one of the core responsibilities within your wider water hygiene management duties and plays an important role in keeping your building safe and compliant.
Key points:
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Legal compliance: Required for landlords, employers, and duty holders under ACOP L8 and HSG274.
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Risk control: Identifies areas where water may stagnate or reach temperatures ideal for Legionella growth.
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Documentation: Provides a clear, auditable record of your water safety management.
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For further reading, check out our blog 'What is a Legionella Risk Assessment'.
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Who Needs a Legionella Risk Assessment
A risk assessment is required for any building where water is stored or distributed in a way that could create exposure to Legionella. This includes commercial premises, office buildings, healthcare sites, schools, industrial units and residential blocks. If you have hot and cold water systems, storage tanks, showers, calorifiers, cooling equipment or any outlets that generate water droplets, you have a legal responsibility to assess and manage the risks.
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​A risk assessment must be carried out by someone competent to evaluate the system accurately. This might be a trained in-house person or an external specialist, provided they have suitable knowledge and experience.
If you are unsure whether you need a Legionella risk assessment for your building, then this article in our Learning Centre covers the topic in a bit more detail: Do I need a legionella risk assessment? | Titan Water
What Does a Legionella Risk Assessment Involve?
Surveying Your Water System
A risk assessment begins with a detailed review of your building’s water system. This includes mapping tanks, calorifiers, pipework, pumps, thermostatic mixing valves and all relevant outlets. The assessor checks for dead legs, underused areas, oversized tanks and other conditions that could lead to stagnation. Temperature readings are taken at key points to determine whether the system is operating within safe ranges.
If your system includes storage tanks, the review will involve checking their size, condition and level of insulation. You learn more about the different types of water tanks at our water tank services page.
Identifying Risk Factors
Once the system is mapped, attention turns to the specific conditions that encourage bacterial growth. Common risk factors include:
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Water temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees
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Areas of low flow or limited use
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Scale, rust or sediment accumulation
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Complex pipework layouts
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Outlets that generate fine aerosols
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Poorly circulated storage systems
The assessor will also consider how the building is used and whether any occupants are particularly vulnerable. This influences the final risk rating and the control measures required.
Reviewing Existing Control Measures
The next step is to evaluate how effectively your current controls are working. This includes checking temperature monitoring routines, flushing patterns, cleaning and descaling practices, water treatment processes and the accuracy of your documentation. Good records help demonstrate compliance and support consistent management.
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If you want further guidance on daily and weekly monitoring tasks, you can explore related articles in our Learning Centre.
What Happens After the Assessment
Once the assessment is complete, you will receive a structured report that outlines your system layout, risk areas and recommended actions. This normally includes:
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A list of remedial works or improvements - see our blog on how to prioritise legionella remedial works for more insight.
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Temperature control adjustments
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Schematics or updated drawings
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Flushing and monitoring schedules
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Cleaning or descaling recommendations
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Guidance on record keeping
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Advice on when to re-assess the system
Many buildings require maintenance tasks such as cleaning, tank inspections or disinfection work. This article in our Learning Centre Water Tank Maintenance Checklist - Expert Tips | Titan Water is a useful resource if you want to learn more about the maintenance requirements for cold water storage tanks.
When to Review Your Legionella Risk Assessment
Your assessment should not be viewed as a one time document. It needs to be reviewed whenever:
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The water system is modified or extended
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A new tank, calorifier or group of outlets is added
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The building’s use or occupancy changes
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The system has been unused for long periods
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Maintenance work identifies issues that affect water safety
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You need to confirm the continued effectiveness of control measures
Regular reviews help you maintain compliance and ensure nothing is overlooked. This article in our blog section expands on this question a little further - How Often Should Legionella Risk Assessments Be Carried Out? | Titan Water
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If you maintain several buildings, keeping a consistent approach to ongoing water hygiene monitoring is helpful for planning future reviews and identifying emerging risks.
Legionella Risk Assessment Legal Requirements
A Legionella risk assessment is not just best practice, it is often a legal requirement for organisations that control premises, including landlords, managing agents, employers and duty holders. The purpose is simple: to assess the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria in water systems and identify practical control measures.
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Legionella can cause Legionnaires’ disease if contaminated water droplets are inhaled. The risk is higher where water is stored or circulated, where temperatures sit in the growth range, or where there is stagnation, scale, demonstrates corrosion or biofilm.
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In most organisations, someone is appointed to manage water safety day to day. This is often referred to as the responsible person. We support responsible persons by producing a clear, site specific assessment and an action plan that is realistic to maintain.
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A risk assessment is not a one off document. The assessment should be reviewed regularly, and also whenever something changes, for example changes to the building, water system, usage, or management arrangements. If the existing document is out of date, it can leave gaps in control and compliance.
Why Legionella Risk Assessments Matter
Keeping Building Users Safe
Legionella bacteria can cause serious illness, particularly for those who are older, immunocompromised or exposed to fine water droplets. A proper risk assessment helps identify issues before they present a danger, giving you the opportunity to act early and protect everyone in the building.
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Meeting Compliance Requirements
UK regulations require duty holders to assess and control the risks associated with Legionella. A well documented and suitable risk assessment helps demonstrate compliance, supports your organisation during audits or inspections and provides a clear framework for ongoing management.
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Supporting Professional Water Safety Management
A structured approach to water hygiene strengthens confidence in your building’s safety systems. It also helps teams maintain consistent standards over time, even when roles change or new staff are involved. Your documentation becomes a reliable reference point for monitoring, maintenance and decision-making.
Legionnaires’ Disease and L8 Risk Assessments
A Legionnaires’ risk assessment focuses on identifying conditions that could allow legionella bacteria in water systems to grow and spread, increasing the risk of exposure to occupants and visitors. The assessment looks at how water is stored, distributed and used, as well as existing control measures.
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An L8 risk assessment refers to the requirements set out in ACOP L8, which places duties on those in control of premises to assess the risk from legionella and manage it appropriately. This applies to a wide range of buildings, including workplaces, rental properties, care settings and commercial premises.
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By carrying out a suitable and sufficient Legionnaires’ risk assessment in line with L8, duty holders can demonstrate that risks have been properly assessed and that proportionate control measures are in place.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a Legionella risk assessment take?
Most assessments take between one and four hours depending on system size and complexity.
How often should it be reviewed?
Many buildings review every two years, but changes in system design or usage may require earlier review.
Does a risk assessment include water sampling?
Sampling is not always required. The assessor will advise if it is appropriate based on risk. Visit our Legionella Testing page if you'd like to learn more about sampling for Legionella.
Who can complete a Legionella risk assessment?
The person must be competent, with suitable knowledge and experience in water systems and Legionella control.
What documents should I keep?
Keep monitoring logs, temperature records, flushing logs, maintenance reports and your current risk assessment.
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