Glossary
Dead leg
A length of pipework serving an outlet or fitting that is used rarely or not at all, so water sits in it and can drift into the temperatures where Legionella multiplies. Dead legs are one of the most common risk-assessment findings and are usually best removed back to the circulating main, or kept flushed if removal is not practical.
Covered in depth
Articles that use this term
- Legionella risk assessment basics: what it is and why you need it
- Temperature control basics for Legionella prevention
- Routine monitoring and flushing: the basics
- Legionella control in office buildings
- Common Legionella control mistakes to avoid
- Essential best practices for Legionella prevention
- History of Legionella and major outbreaks
- When to conduct a Legionella risk assessment: frequency and triggers
- Hot water temperature guidelines to prevent Legionella
- How to implement a flushing programme for Legionella control
- Essential records for Legionella compliance
- Managing Legionella in schools and universities
More terms
Cite this page
"Dead leg, Legionella glossary." Legionella.io. https://legionella.io/glossary/dead-leg/
Free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: quote, adapt or republish with attribution and a link back to the original.