What is the Legionella Risk Assessment and Disinfection Scheme?
The Legionella Risk Assessment and Disinfection Scheme is a national scheme run by the Association of Plumbing & Heating Contractors (APHC) and the Scottish and Northern Ireland Plumbing Employers’ Federation (SNIPEF) which is a means of demonstrating compliance with the Health and Safety Executive’s Approved Code of Practice for Legionnaires’ disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8).
What does L8 cover?
All hot and cold water systems within all properties that have a commercial use or public access, regardless of cold water storage size fall under the L8 requirement. This includes residential properties that are let by a private or social housing landlord, care homes, schools, offices, sport facilities and changing rooms along with public buildings.
The scope of coverage of L8 was recently amended to bring systems under 350 Litre storage capacity into the legislation. The outcome is that all property types including residential properties that are associated with a business including properties that are let, are required to be subject to assessment of risk for legionella.
What are the benefits?
The Legionella Risk Assessment and Disinfection Scheme allows property owners to meet their obligations by sourcing and working with plumbing professionals who meet the scheme’s criteria.
Membership demonstrates to property owners that they are dealing with a professional and competent plumber, and plumbers receive recognition for their knowledge and understanding of the risks associated with legionella and that they can implement a risk assessment and carry out remedial action where necessary.
Employers, Property Owners and Landlords can learn more from the PHCA Legionella Guide.
How to join
The scheme is open to APHC members as an extension to their accreditation on one of our membership schemes. The scheme itself covers competences to undertake legionella risk assessment and remedial work in residential property types.
To belong to the scheme, the business will need to ensure that at least one plumbing operative carrying out this type of work:
- Either holds or is eligible to hold a Plumber, Advanced or Technician Plumber or Heating Engineer or Heating Technician JIB Registration card or such other JIB Registration card as specified, or an N/SVQ qualification or craft certificate in a mechanical services discipline (plumbing, heating & ventilating or gas fitting)
- Holds a qualification in Water Byelaws/Regulations
- Holds a current BPEC Disinfection and Risk Assessment of Domestic Hot Water Storage Systems qualification or equivalent/ and or a current BPEC Risk Assessment of Water Systems qualification or equivalent.
- Declare that they will only carry out work if they have sufficient knowledge and understanding of the HSE Approve Code of Practice, Legionnaires’ disease: The control of Legionella bacteria in water systems (L8)
- Undertake to understand the Scheme’s requirements as described in the Scheme Guide; and
- Abide by the Scheme’s Code of Conduct.
In addition to the above criteria and our standard membership requirements, the plumbing company must have Professional Indemnity Insurance in place to a value of £250,000 to cover the operative(s) at work.
Fees
There is a £100 (plus VAT) annual membership fee per company in addition to APHC’s licensed membership fee or certification scheme fee.
For further information speak directly to the APHC membership sales team on Tel: 0121 711 5030.
Alternatively download our Legionella Scheme Guide for PHCA Members.
