Ventilation Surveys & Services (VSS) has warned of legionella becoming a growing concern for thousands of property managers across the UK, in the light of outbreaks of legionnaires' disease in Edinburgh and Stoke last year.

Most commonly found in sources of water, legionella bacteria can contaminate building water systems and services, such as domestic hot and cold water, cooling towers, ventilation and air conditioning systems. If the bacteria are allowed to multiply and then become released into the air in water droplets, they can present a very serious health issue for occupants.

The Chartered Institute for Building Services Engineers (CIBSE) has warned that large buildings, such as hotels, hospitals, museums and office blocks, are more vulnerable to Legionella contamination because they have larger, more complex water supply systems in which the bacteria can quickly spread. Hence CIBSE has issued a new guide – TM13: Minimising the risk of Legionnaires’ disease.

VSS has an impressive 25 years’ worth of experience in its sector, working for businesses of all sizes, from global-name organisations to small independents. It understands that the routine maintenance of systems is important in order to ensure building safety, particularly when it comes to legionella.

In addition to the company’s extensive industry experience, chief operations officer George Friend was also elected as president of the European Ventilation Hygiene Association (EVHA).

For more information on VSS, visit breathevss.co.uk or phone 0333 500 8368 (local rate).