01 March 2024         Blogs

Legionella continues to dominate the news and every year hundreds of cases of Legionnaires’ Disease are reported in the UK alone. The World Health Organization reports that “the death rate may be as high as 40–80% in untreated immuno-suppressed patients [but] can be reduced to 5–30% through appropriate case management and depending on the severity of the clinical signs and symptoms. Overall the death rate is usually within the range of 5–10%.”

A recent outbreak at a plastics manufacturing company in West Bromwich resulted in five members of the public becoming infected with Legionnaire’s Disease after Legionella bacteria grew in their water cooling towers and pipes. One of the five people infected was taken to intensive care and put on a ventilator after being infected – highlighting just how serious the disease can be. The company were subsequently investigated by the HSE and fined £50,000 and ordered to pay £11,000 in costs. Further information on the news story can be found here.

What is the fine for legionella in the UK?

Due to outbreaks such as these, The Health & Safety Executive (HSE) is extremely active, and regularly goes ahead with criminal prosecutions against those failing to adhere to the law. Sanctions and prosecutions vary but will occur if the law isn’t adhered to, and in extreme cases can even result in imprisonment.

One of the largest fines of £1.8m was given to G4S Cash Solutions (UK) after they failed to maintain their water systems in compliance with the Health and Safety at Work Act, Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999, Control of Substances Hazardous to Health Regulations 2002, and ACOP L8, the Health and Safety Executive’s approved code on the control of Legionella in water systems.

What are the symptoms of Legionnaire’s Disease?

The early symptoms of Legionnaires’ disease are similar to those of the common flu and include muscle aches, tiredness, headaches, dry cough and fever. Some make a full recovery but there is increasing evidence that long term symptoms for many will include breathlessness, fatigue and impact on the neurological and neuromuscular system.

Does my business need to be concerned about legionella?

Legionella can be found in any premises/water system. Along with potentially fatal consequences, a Legionella outbreak can have serious legal and financial implications for an organisation/individual. It is recommended that anyone responsible for a facility or maintaining a water system has an awareness of legionella at the very least.

Some industries/water systems may be more at risk, such as:

• Healthcare settings i.e. Hospitals, nursing and care homes
• Evaporative cooling systems
• Spa pool systems
• Older, larger and complex hot and cold water systems
• Industrial and manufacturing water systems

Building and business owners and managers are responsible for their work premises under;

• Health and Safety at Work Act 1974 (sections 2, 3, 4)
• Control of Substances Hazardous to Health (COSHH) Regulations 2002 (Regulations 6,7,8,9 &12)
• Management of Health and Safety at Work Regulations 1999

It is their principal legal responsibility to uphold a duty of care, ensuring the safety of your business, properties, and water systems by guarding against potential legionella growth and disseminating/inhalation of water aerosols.

The Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice (ACoP) L8 serves as a crucial guideline for preventing and controlling legionellosis in water systems. This document holds a unique legal status, making employers susceptible to prosecution, fines, or even imprisonment if it is demonstrated that the relevant provisions of the Code were not adhered to.

Legionella Awareness training in-line with ACoP L8

Develop Training provides a range of Legionella awareness and more advanced training courses to reduce the risks associated with Legionella bacteria and support compliance with the L8 Approved Code of Practice (ACoP).

Our Legionella and ACoP L8 Awareness course covers a background on legionella and the risks it offers, introduces water systems, legal requirements and controls including risk assessment, management pathways, ACOP L8/HSG274 and monitoring / maintenance duties for hot and cold water systems.

An awareness of Legionella (as a minimum) is needed for those who implement and monitor precautions such as little used outlet flushing and temperature monitoring. The more informed your workforce is on the dangers associated with legionella bacteria and the conditions under which they thrive, the more competent individuals will be in taking preventative action and recognising warning signs.

To view the full list of available Water Systems & Legionella training offered by Develop, click here: https://www.developtraining.co.uk/training/estates-and-facilities-management/water-systems-legionella/

Contact us

If you have any questions or are unsure which training course is right for you, please contact our Customer Service team on 0800 876 6708 or email enquiries@developtraining.co.uk

   09 January 2024         News

In a significant update to Part L of the Building Regulations (Conservation & Power),  professionals who install, commission, maintain, monitor, and manage heating systems, are set to face a major shift in regulations concerning flow temperatures. The new guidelines emphasise that, for heating systems, flow temperatures should not exceed 55°C, and ideally, they should be kept below this threshold.

The guidelines state that,

“All parts of the system, including pipework and emitters, should be sized to allow the space heating system to operate effectively, and in a manner that meets the heating needs of the building, at a maximum flow temperature of 55°C or lower. To maximise the efficiency of these systems, it would be preferable to design to a lower flow temperature than 55°C. Where it is not feasible to install a space heating system that can operate at this temperature (e.g. where there is insufficient space for larger radiators, or the existing distribution system is provided with higher temperature heat from a low carbon district heat network), the space heating system should be designed to the lowest design temperature possible that will still meet the heating needs of the building.”

The reduced temperatures are primarily in response to new condensing boilers. The water returning to the boiler needs to be lower than 55 °C otherwise the water won’t condense and therefore it would be like having a non-condensing boiler, which defeats the point.

While this change brings about several advantages in terms of energy efficiency and environmental impact, it also introduces a new consideration for those that manage secondary hot water systems heated by them — the increased risk of Legionella bacteria formation in hot water systems due to decreased hot water flow, return and distribution temperatures. It will also have impact on the scald risk and management protocols, amongst others.

Legionella is a waterborne pathogen that can lead to acute respiratory pneumonia. The bacteria multiples between the temperatures of 20°C and 45° which is more likely as a consequence of this change.

Hot water systems face increased risk of Legionella bacteria

Dan Sutherland, Senior Water Systems & Legionella Trainer at Develop Training explains,

It is important that industry understands, communicates and provides specific risk assess guidance on each situation on its own merits. This can be challenging and so developing employee competence is part of this (partly achieved through training). Late understanding of these principles impacts businesses and individuals from a commercial, financial and personal aspect.”

He continues,

Where the hot water system represents a lower risk from legionella, reduced hot water temperature may have little impact (typically in domestic dwellings and smaller commercial settings) but in larger commercial and healthcare systems (and commonly older systems), maintaining traditional hot water flow and return temperatures of 60°C and 50°C may still be a key control.

There is also impact in the world of scald prevention and thermostatic mixing valves – can these valves now be removed in some settings? Will they continue to work effectively due to reduced supply temperatures? What is the possible impact and effect on build quality requirements, and will hot water system design change as a consequence?

We should also remember that best practice up to now has been to supply hot water to kitchens for hygiene reasons of at least 55°C.”

Legionella training a critical factor in mitigating risk

To address this concern, training providers in the Building Services industry play a crucial role in ensuring that professionals are well-informed and equipped to navigate these evolving regulations. It is essential for heating engineers and those who work with hot water systems to stay up to date with the latest industry standards, enhance their knowledge of Legionella prevention measures, and implement best practices in their installations to uphold both safety and efficiency.

As the industry adapts to these changes, Develop Training will be incorporating the latest updates into its curriculum, ensuring that heating engineers are well-prepared to meet the demands of the evolving regulatory landscape. This proactive approach will not only enhance the skills of professionals in the field but also contribute to creating safer and more energy-efficient heating systems for the benefit of both consumers and the environment.

Click here to find out more about Develop’s range of Legionella training.

Click here to find out more about Develop’s range of Gas training.

   07 June 2021         News

Develop Training is delighted to announce the appointment of Dan Sutherland as Senior Water Systems Lecturer.

With fifteen years of experience in the legionella / water systems industry, two-thirds of which was spent as a legionella risk assessor working for one of the UK’s largest water treatment companies, Dan has more than proved his wealth of knowledge and commitment during his six years at Develop as a Water Systems Lecturer in the Estates & FM team.

New role for Dan

After facing off stiff competition from a number of external candidates, Dan was thrilled to learn of his success and said,

“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed working at Develop for the past few years and have learnt a lot from Rob Griffiths, whose role this previously was. I saw Rob as both a mentor and a colleague and his guidance has been vital in helping me to become the lecturer I am today. I can’t wait to get stuck into my new role and continue to make Develop’s Water Systems & Legionella training the best in the industry!”

Dan’s appointment takes place with immediate effect.