UK Legionella standards & guidance

The documents that govern Legionella control in the UK, in plain English: what each one is, whether it binds you, what it covers, and a link to the official source. Start here when someone quotes a code at you and you need to know how much weight it actually carries.

ACoP L8 · Legionnaires' disease: the control of legionella bacteria in water systems

HSE

What it is: An Approved Code of Practice. It has special legal status: follow it and you are normally doing enough to comply; depart from it and, in a prosecution, you must show you achieved control another way.
Who it binds: Duty holders (employers and those in control of premises) under the Health and Safety at Work etc. Act and COSHH.
What it covers: The duties: identifying and assessing risk, appointing competent people, a written scheme of control, monitoring, records and review.

Official source Read our explainer →

HSG274 · Legionnaires' disease: technical guidance

HSE

What it is: The detailed technical guidance that sits beneath L8 — the practical "how", across three parts.
Who it binds: Guidance (not an ACoP), but the recognised way to deliver the L8 duties.
What it covers: Part 1 cooling towers and evaporative condensers; Part 2 hot and cold water systems; Part 3 other risk systems. Temperatures, inspection intervals, cleaning and monitoring methods.

Official source Read our explainer →

HSG282 · Control of legionella and other infectious agents in spa-pool systems

HSE

What it is: Dedicated guidance for spa pools and hot tubs, a recognised higher-risk system.
Who it binds: Operators and duty holders responsible for spa-pool systems.
What it covers: Design, operation, water treatment, monitoring and management of spa pools and hot tubs.

Official source Read our explainer →

BS 8580-1 · Water quality. Risk assessments for Legionella control. Code of practice

BSI

What it is: The code of practice describing what a competent Legionella risk assessment should contain and how it should be done.
Who it binds: A voluntary standard, widely treated as the benchmark for risk-assessment quality.
What it covers: Scope, competence, the assessment method, and what a defensible risk assessment looks like.

Official source Read our explainer →

BS 7592 · Sampling for Legionella bacteria in water systems. Code of practice

BSI

What it is: The code of practice for how to take representative Legionella water samples.
Who it binds: A voluntary standard, the reference for sampling method and planning.
What it covers: Sampling points, volumes, neutralisers, handling and the planning of a representative sampling regime.

Official source Read our explainer →

BS 8680 · Water quality. Water safety plans. Code of practice

BSI

What it is: The code of practice for building a water safety plan — a management-system approach to all water risks, not just Legionella.
Who it binds: A voluntary standard, increasingly expected as best practice.
What it covers: Establishing a water safety group, plan structure, risk management and review.

Official source Read our explainer →

HTM 04-01 · Safe water in healthcare premises

NHS England

What it is: The healthcare-specific memorandum that sits alongside L8/HSG274 for NHS and healthcare premises.
Who it binds: Healthcare premises; expected practice for NHS estates.
What it covers: Water safety groups and plans, design review, operational monitoring and controls weighted to patient vulnerability (including augmented care).

Official source Read our explainer →

RIDDOR · Reporting of Injuries, Diseases and Dangerous Occurrences Regulations

HSE

What it is: The regulations covering when work-related illness and dangerous occurrences must be reported to the enforcing authority.
Who it binds: Employers, the self-employed and people in control of premises.
What it covers: Reporting duties that can apply where Legionnaires’ disease is linked to work exposure.

Official source Read our explainer →

LCA Code of Conduct · Legionella Control Association — Code of Conduct for Service Providers

LCA

What it is: A recognised trust mark and code of conduct for Legionella service providers in the UK.
Who it binds: Voluntary membership; a benchmark when appointing contractors.
What it covers: Service standards and commitments expected of registered providers.

Official source Read our explainer →

Links go to the official publisher. Nothing here is legal advice; apply each document through a competent, site-specific risk assessment.