A national legionella scheme has been launched by the Plumbing & Heating Contractors Alliance, to ensure compliance with the Health & Safety Executive's Approved Code of Practice.
The PHCA comprises the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) and the Scottish & Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF).
SNIPEF’s chief executive Robert Burgon explained: “The Health & Safety Executive has recently revised its Approved Code of Practice for the control of legionella bacteria, generally referred to as L8. The revision means that L8 now applies to all hot and cold water systems within every property that has a commercial or public use. Previously, the legislation only applied to systems that had a minimum of a 350l cold-water storage capacity.
“This change in the rules has significantly increased the number of property owners who now must take the necessary precautions to reduce the risks of exposure to legionella.”
The PHCA’s new scheme has been developed to ensure that property owners can meet their legal obligations by using a reputable plumbing company which understands the risks associated with legionella, and can implement a risk assessment and carry out remedial action where necessary.
John Thompson, chief executive of the APHC, said: “I am delighted that by working in conjunction with SNIPEF, we have been able to launch a national scheme which will give peace of mind to customers when choosing a plumbing business to carry out either a legionella risk assessment, or the disinfection of hot and cold water systems.”
More information can be found at www.legionellacheck.org
If you'd like to keep up-to-date with the latest developments in the heating and plumbing industry, why not subscribe to our weekly newsletters? Just click the button below and you can ensure all the latest industry news and new product information lands in your inbox every week.
Subscribe to receive your free copy of HVP every month.
