Comprehensive evaluation of your building's water systems

Most office occupiers don't think much about what's behind the walls. But the pipework running through your building, delivering water to kitchens, bathrooms, and appliances, requires careful management to remain safe.

A water risk assessment is the foundation of that management: a detailed evaluation of your building's entire water infrastructure, designed to identify conditions where harmful bacteria could develop.

Beyond routine testing

Where Legionella testing takes a snapshot, sampling water at specific points to measure bacteria levels, a water risk assessment looks at the complete picture. It maps your building's water infrastructure from end to end, examining how water enters, circulates, and exits the system.

This includes identifying problem areas that routine testing might miss: blind spots in system design, outdated components such as galvanised steel pipework that corrodes over time, and fixtures that create aerosol risk, such as showers, spray taps, or decorative features where water droplets become airborne.

The assessment also determines what ongoing testing is required and how frequently, forming the basis for your Legionella monitoring regime.

Identifying dead legs

One of the most common issues found during a water risk assessment is dead legs: sections of pipework leading to rarely used outlets, or pipes that once served a purpose but were never properly removed. Stagnant water in these areas creates conditions that favour bacterial growth.

Closing the compliance gap between landlord and tenant

Landlord water-safety obligations and tenant responsibilities aren't always clearly defined, which can create compliance gaps. Generally speaking, building owners are responsible for the water systems serving communal areas, while tenants may hold responsibility for systems within their own demised space.

The challenge is that water doesn't respect lease boundaries. A problem in the building's main supply can affect individual offices, and vice versa. Effective water compliance requires coordination across both, something that's often easier said than done when multiple parties are involved.

In Kitt's managed offices, we take a joined-up approach. Water risk assessments cover the entire building infrastructure and individual workspaces, ensuring nothing is overlooked, regardless of where responsibility technically lies.

How often is a water risk assessment required?

The standard interval is every two years. However, if an assessment identifies elevated risks due to building age, system complexity, or high-risk fixtures, more frequent reviews may be recommended.

An assessment should also be revisited following significant changes, such as refurbishment affecting pipework layout or the installation of new water-fed equipment.

What the assessment delivers

A completed assessment provides a detailed record of your building's water systems, including schematic drawings where necessary. It highlights areas of concern, categorises risks by severity, and sets out recommended actions, from removing redundant pipework to more involved remediation.

Crucially, it establishes an ongoing monitoring regime: the checks, temperature records, and periodic re-testing required to maintain compliance over time.

How Kitt manages water risk assessments

We coordinate assessments across all managed buildings, including the specialists, documentation, and ongoing monitoring. Your office stays safe and compliant without adding to your workload.