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Legionella Risk Assessments in Scotland
Professional Legionella Risk Assessment & Water Hygiene Services
Primed Engineering provides Legionella risk assessments for commercial properties, landlords, letting agents and organisations across Central Scotland.
We assess hot and cold water systems to identify potential Legionella risks and provide a clear written report detailing our findings, recommended control measures and any remedial actions that may be required.
Our wider water hygiene services mean we can also assist with ongoing Legionella monitoring, water sampling, cold water storage tank inspection, cleaning and disinfection, temperature monitoring and Written Schemes of Control.
For advice or to arrange a Legionella risk assessment, contact Primed Engineering on 07765 444750.
Who We Work With
Legionella Risk Assessments for Commercial Properties & Landlords
We provide Legionella risk assessments for a wide range of properties and water systems throughout Scotland, including:
- Offices and commercial buildings
- Hotels and hospitality premises
- Schools and educational buildings
- Residential and apartment buildings
- Landlord and rental properties
- Care and supported-living properties
- Industrial premises
- Workshops and warehouses
- Properties with cold water storage tanks, showers and complex hot and cold water systems
Every property and water system is different, so our assessments are based on the actual installation and how the building is used.
What Does a Legionella Risk Assessment Include?
A Legionella risk assessment involves examining the property's hot and cold water systems to identify conditions that could increase the risk of Legionella growth or exposure.
Depending on the property and water system, our assessment can include reviewing:
- Cold water storage tanks
- Hot water cylinders and calorifiers
- Showers and other aerosol-producing outlets
- Hot and cold water temperatures
- Stored and recirculating water
- Little-used outlets and areas of stagnation
- Pipework arrangements and potential dead legs
- Scale, corrosion and sediment
- Existing monitoring and control measures
- Groups of people who may be particularly susceptible
Following the assessment, we provide a written Legionella risk assessment report detailing the findings, identified risks and recommended actions.
Where additional work is required, Primed Engineering can also assist with appropriate water hygiene monitoring and remedial works.
Legionella Monitoring & Water Hygiene Services
A Legionella risk assessment may identify ongoing control measures required to manage the water system safely.
Primed Engineering provides a range of water hygiene services including temperature monitoring, water sampling, cold water storage tank inspections, tank cleaning and disinfection, shower and outlet monitoring and Written Schemes of Control.
We also maintain associated mechanical equipment including cold water booster pump sets and water systems, allowing us to assist with both water hygiene and the mechanical equipment serving the building.
That last paragraph differentiates Primed Engineering from a business that only produces Legionella reports
Legionellosis
Legionellosis is a collective term for diseases caused by legionella bacteria including the most serious Legionnaires' disease, as well as the similar but less serious conditions of Pontiac fever and Lochgoilhead fever. Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal form of pneumonia and everyone is susceptible to infection. The risk increases with age but some people are at higher risk including:
- people over 45 years of age
- smokers and heavy drinkers
- people suffering from chronic respiratory or kidney disease
- diabetes, lung and heart disease
- anyone with an impaired immune system
The bacterium Legionella pneumophila and related bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers. They may also be found in purpose-built water systems such as cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools.
If conditions are favourable, the bacteria may grow increasing the risks of Legionnaires' disease and it is therefore important to control the risks by introducing appropriate measures outlined in Legionnaires' disease - The Control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8).
Where Does It Come From
Legionella bacteria are widespread in natural water systems, eg rivers and ponds. However, the conditions are rarely right for people to catch the disease from these sources. Outbreaks of the illness occur from exposure to legionella growing in purpose-built systems where water is maintained at a temperature high enough to encourage growth, eg cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems and spa pools used in all sorts of premises (work and domestic).
How Do People Get It?
People contract Legionnaires' disease by inhaling small droplets of water (aerosols), suspended in the air, containing the bacteria. Certain conditions increase the risk from legionella if:
- the water temperature in all or some parts of the system may be between 20-45 °C, which is suitable for growth
- it is possible for breathable water droplets to be created and dispersed eg aerosol created by a cooling tower, or water outlets
- water is stored and/or re-circulated
- there are deposits that can support bacterial growth providing a source of nutrients for the organism eg rust, sludge, scale, organic matter and biofilms
Cases of Legionnaires' disease are often the result of infections caught in the UK, but a number of cases occur abroad.
Legionella Risk Assessments Across Central Scotland
We can provide Legionella Risk Assessments for domestic and commercial properties across all of the central belt of Scotland including
- Alloa
- Falkirk
- Stirling
- Dunfermline
- Dunblane
- Cumbernauld
- Linlithgow
- Edinburgh
- Glasgow