Water sampling and temperature monitoring for office safety

Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by inhaling contaminated water droplets. It affects hundreds of people in the UK each year.

For offices, Legionella testing is a key part of water hygiene compliance and a legal responsibility. Regular testing ensures water systems are safe and the business meets its duty of care.

Understanding Legionella risk

Legionella bacteria occur naturally in water sources. In small quantities, they pose little risk. However, when conditions allow the bacteria to multiply, typically in water between 20°C and 50°C, levels can become dangerous.

The bacteria become harmful when contaminated water is dispersed as fine droplets or aerosols that can be inhaled. Common sources in office environments include:

• Showers and spray taps
• Hot and cold water systems, such as a Billi
• Cooling towers and air conditioning units
• Decorative fountains or water features
• Rarely used outlets where water becomes stagnant

Legionnaires' disease can be fatal, particularly for vulnerable individuals, making water safety testing a critical part of workplace health and safety.

What are dead legs?

Dead legs are sections of pipework where water sits stagnant, perhaps due to a tap that's rarely used or a redundant outlet never properly decommissioned. These areas create ideal conditions for Legionella to multiply and are a common finding during risk assessments.

Identifying dead legs is a key part of maintaining safe water systems. Regular flushing of little-used outlets and the removal of redundant pipework, where necessary, help reduce the risk.

Whose responsibility is Legionella testing?

Under the Health and Safety at Work Act and the Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations (COSHH), the duty to manage legionella risk typically falls to the person who controls the premises.

In practice, this means:

• Landlords are generally responsible for communal water systems and shared building infrastructure.
• Tenants may be responsible for water systems within their demised space, depending on the lease terms.
• Managing agents or facilities providers often coordinate testing on behalf of both parties.

For businesses in managed offices, clarity on these responsibilities is essential. Kitt manages legionella compliance across our buildings, ensuring both communal and individual office systems are properly tested and maintained.

A fully managed cycle of testing and reporting

Legionella risk assessments typically recommend water sampling every six months. Samples are collected from various points in the system and sent to the laboratory for analysis to measure bacterial levels.

Alongside six-monthly testing, monthly temperature checks are essential. Maintaining cold water below 20°C and hot water above 50°C prevents bacterial growth. These checks form part of ongoing water hygiene management.

Testing requirements are typically identified through a water risk assessment, which evaluates your building's entire water infrastructure.

How Kitt manages Legionella compliance

Kitt coordinates Legionella testing and water hygiene management across all managed offices:

• Scheduling six-monthly water sampling for bacteria
• Conducting monthly temperature monitoring at key outlets
• Identifying and addressing dead legs or stagnant water risks
• Maintaining certificates and compliance documentation

Testing is scheduled as part of your compliance package; no need to track deadlines or coordinate contractors yourself.

Talk to our team about water hygiene compliance.