Enquire Now
Enquire Now
halpin haywards logo
Legionella Risk Assessments steam-boilers

Legionella Risk Assessment Ireland

Hygiene Services

RISK ASSESSMENT

Is Your Building Legally Compliant? Get a Legionella Risk Assessment in Ireland Today

Under Ireland’s Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, every employer and building owner must carry out a Legionella risk assessment to protect staff, visitors, and the public. Failure to comply is a legal offence  not just a best-practice gap.

Halpin & Hayward Ltd delivers Legionella risk assessments across Dublin and Ireland, aligned with HPSC National Guidelines for the Control of Legionellosis in Ireland 2009 and HSG274 industry best practice.
`
Risk assessments are formal, written documents that need to be carried out on hot and cold and cooling water systems. A risk assessment looks in detail at the water system and identifies all of the potential Legionella risks that are present or foreseeable. From the Legionella risk assessment a control scheme must be developed to ensure that all the risks identified are managed as efficiently as possible in order to reduce the level of risk within the system. Specific weekly, monthly, quarterly and annual tasks must be completed and recorded. 

Halpin & Hayward offer the full service to ensure compliance of risk assessment, log book supply, asset list generation and task scheduling to assist our clients in discharging their responsibilities.

What Is a Legionella Risk Assessment  and Why Does It Matter in Ireland?

A Legionella water risk assessment is a full survey of every water system in your building  from the point water enters to where it exits. It identifies where conditions may allow Legionella pneumophila to grow and multiply, particularly at temperatures between 20°C and 45°C.

Legionnaires’ disease is a serious, potentially fatal form of pneumonia spread by inhaling contaminated water droplets. Irish law requires the Responsible Person  typically the building owner, employer, or facilities manager  to assess, control, and document this risk.

Who must have a Legionella risk assessment in Ireland?

  • Hotels, guesthouses, and serviced apartments
  • Nursing homes and residential care facilities
  • Hospitals and healthcare premises
  • Schools, colleges, and universities
  • Office buildings and multi-unit commercial properties
  • Leisure centres, gyms, and spa facilities
  • Dental practices and clinics
  • Industrial and manufacturing sites

If warm water is stored or distributed in your building, you have a legal obligation to assess the ri

Legionella risk evaluations make sure that water systems are properly analysed, allowing responsible organisations to come up with a management plan that works. Legionella risk evaluations are required by law in all sectors of the economy that depend on the usage of water systems, in addition to being good practise.

The Legionella Risk Assessment is the blueprint for a Legionella Control Program. It is a thorough survey of a premises water services from where it enters the building until it leaves. It considers the installation and operation of the water system, plant and equipment on site to assess the potential risk of Legionella or other bacteria growth and ensure compliance to current law and best practice. The risk assessment document is presented in a concise report including photographic evidence, schematics, asset register, temperature profile and remedial action logs to aid clients with closing out any recommendations made.

Legionella water testing is the responsibility of the duty holders / building owners / facility managers to provide a safe environment for staff, visitors, contractors and the general public within their own facility but also consider their impact on nearby buildings.

Halpin and Hayward Ltd offer a full range of services from Legionella Water Risk Assessment through to implementation of a Control Scheme to assist our clients in discharging their duties under current legislation such as Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005, associated Irish Guidance and industry best practice. The prevailing guidance in Ireland is the HPSC (Health Protection Surveillance Centre) National Guidelines for the Control of Legionellosis in Ireland : 2009.

By locating the hazards, a legionella risk assessment can aid in the prevention of legionella pneumophila. After flowing for a certain amount of time, water outputs are checked for temperatures as part of the risk assessment. Also assessed are the cold and hot water storage facilities. Moreover, samples are gathered in high-risk sites such as cooling towers, jacuzzis, and other places where equipment emits a spray or mist. Analyses of water samples are submitted. The Legionella risk assessment is then documented in a report.

To achieve compliance for clients our process involves the following stages:

You can find more information on the current legislation and guidance at:

https://www.hpsc.ie/a-z/respiratory/legionellosis/guidance/nationalguidelinesforthecontroloflegionellosisinireland/

https://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg274.htm

Call us today to discuss managing your Legionella obligations.

Contact Us

Legionella Risk Assessment for industry Ireland

How Our Legionella Assessment Process Works

Step 1  Initial Consultation We discuss your building type, water systems, existing documentation, and any previous assessments or incidents.

Step 2  On-Site Survey Our qualified assessor conducts a thorough physical inspection of all water systems, taking outlet temperatures and identifying risk points including dead legs and infrequently used outlets.

Step 3  Water Sampling (where required) Samples are collected from high-risk locations including cooling towers, tanks, and showers. Laboratory analysis is arranged through accredited partners.

Step 4  Risk Assessment Report A detailed, HPSC-compliant report is produced including risk ratings, photographic evidence, schematics, and a prioritised action plan.

Step 5  Control Programme Support We assist you in implementing a Legionella control programme  from water tank cleaning and Legionella testing to ongoing monitoring and remedial works.

Irish Legionella Law: What the Responsible Person Must Know

Ireland’s legal framework for Legionella control is clear and enforceable:

  • Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 (No. 10 of 2005)  requires employers to identify and control biological risks
  • Safety, Health and Welfare at Work (Biological Agents) Regulations 2013  classifies Legionella as a Group 2 biological agent
  • HPSC National Guidelines for the Control of Legionellosis in Ireland, 2009  the primary operational guidance for Irish premises
  • HSG274 and ACOP L8  UK HSE guidance widely adopted as best practice in Ireland

     

The Responsible Person  typically the building owner, employer, or designated facilities manager  is legally accountable for ensuring a current, documented risk assessment is in place and that appropriate control measures are implemented and reviewed.

What Does Our Legionella Risk Assessment Cover?

What Does Our Legionella Risk Assessment Cover?

Our HPSC-compliant assessment examines every component of your water system in detail:

 

Assessment Area

What We Check

Cold water storage tanks

Condition, covers, contamination, temperature (<20°C)

Hot water cylinders & calorifiers

Temperature maintenance (>50°C at cylinder)

Distribution pipework

Dead legs, low-use outlets, stagnation points

Showers & TMVs

Cleaning frequency, temperature, Legionella exposure risk

Cooling towers & evaporative condensers

Drift eliminators, biocide dosing, sampling regime

Jacuzzis & spa pools

Water treatment, turnover rates, bathing loads

Outlet temperatures

Flow temperature profiling at representative points

 

Following inspection, you receive a comprehensive written report including:

 

  • Photographic evidence of all risk points
  • Water system schematics and asset register
  • Temperature profile data
  • Prioritised remedial action log with risk-scored recommendations
  • Documented Responsible Person duties and recommended control programme

Why Choose Halpin & Hayward for Legionella Risk Assessments?

    • Serving Irish businesses for over years from our Dublin base
    • HPSC National Guidelines compliant assessments as standard
    • Full audit trail: photos, schematics, temperature profiles, and risk-scored actions
    • End-to-end service: assessment → prevention → testing → monitoring → remedial work
    • Clear, plain-English reporting designed for the Responsible Person
    • Nationwide coverage: Dublin, Cork, Galway, and across Ireland

    Which Buildings Are Highest Risk?

    Some premises carry elevated Legionella risk due to building type, water system complexity, or occupant vulnerability:


    • Hotels and short-term lets  high water turnover, multiple shower outlets, cooling systems
    • Schools and universities  extended holiday closures cause stagnation; high occupancy on reopening
    • Nursing homes and hospitals  vulnerable occupants with high susceptibility to respiratory illness
    • Dental practices  narrow water lines in dental units create biofilm and growth conditions
    • Large office buildings and apartments  complex pipework with low-use zones and potential dead legs


Legionella Risk Assessment for industry Ireland

Frequently Asked Questions Legionella Risk Assessment Ireland

Yes. Under the Safety, Health and Welfare at Work Act 2005 and associated Biological Agents Regulations 2013, all employers and building operators must assess the risk of Legionella exposure. Failure to comply may result in enforcement action by the Health and Safety Authority (HSA).



How often should a Legionella risk assessment be reviewed?

Assessments should be reviewed regularly and whenever significant changes occur  such as alterations to the water system, change of building use, periods of low occupancy, or following any Legionella-related incident.

What is the safe water temperature to prevent Legionella growth?

Hot water should be stored at or above 60°C and reach outlets at no less than 50°C within one minute. Cold water should be stored and distributed at below 20°C. Legionella thrives between 20°C and 45°C.



What is a dead leg in a water system?Tab Title

A dead leg is a section of pipework that no longer actively carries water  for example, a capped-off pipe or a rarely used outlet. Stagnant water in dead legs creates ideal conditions for Legionella to multiply and is a key finding in risk assessments.

Do landlords need a Legionella risk assessment in Ireland?

Yes. Landlords who provide water systems in rental properties  particularly those with hot water storage, cooling systems, or multiple shower outlets  have a duty of care to assess and manage Legionella risk.

How long does a Legionella risk assessment take?

Survey duration depends on building size and system complexity. Most commercial assessments are completed in half a day to a full day on site, with the written report issued within days.

What is the difference between a Legionella risk assessment and Legionella testing?

A Legionella risk assessment identifies where bacteria could grow based on system design, temperatures, and usage patterns. Legionella water testing involves physical sampling and laboratory analysis to detect whether bacteria is actually present.

Can Halpin & Hayward carry out remedial works after the assessment?

Yes. We offer a full range of follow-on services including water tank cleaning, clean and sterilisation, potable system commissioning, and ongoing monitoring.