Buy a legionella risk assessment on comparable terms
Use one outlet and asset schedule, state the exposed population and give every assessor the same system, record and control-scheme requirements.
A comparable quote must answer five things
- Who is the named assessor and what comparable water-system experience can they evidence?
- Which buildings, outlets, tanks, calorifiers, loops and specialist systems are included?
- Will the work include a schematic, asset register, risk findings and written control scheme?
- Which measurements, samples, laboratory work, monitoring and follow-up are included?
- What travel, VAT, access, cleaning, remedial plumbing and continuing services are excluded?
Information to assemble before requesting quotes
Mark unknown items explicitly. Discovery can be priced; hidden assumptions cannot be compared.
- Dutyholder, responsible person and premises contacts
- Building schedule, water sources, plans and existing schematic
- Outlet count by type, use, building and little-used status
- Tanks, calorifiers, loops, cooling, spa, process and aerosol-producing systems
- Occupants, employees, visitors and people with increased susceptibility
- Current assessment, written scheme, monitoring, sampling and maintenance records
- Changes, control failures, positive results, cases or open actions
- Access, isolation, operating constraints and required report date
Project brief
Business and site: ______________________________________________
Reason for commissioning: first / periodic / new installation / change or event
Equipment and identifiers: ______________________________________
Use, process or operating conditions: ______________________________
Documents available: ___________________________________________
Sites and areas in scope: ________________________________________
Access and shutdown constraints: _________________________________
Target visit and report date: _____________________________________
Required quotation format
- Who is the named assessor and what comparable water-system experience can they evidence?
- Which buildings, outlets, tanks, calorifiers, loops and specialist systems are included?
- Will the work include a schematic, asset register, risk findings and written control scheme?
- Which measurements, samples, laboratory work, monitoring and follow-up are included?
- What travel, VAT, access, cleaning, remedial plumbing and continuing services are excluded?
Competence and evidence questions
Competence is specific to the equipment, system and judgement being bought. Ask about the proposed person, not only the company.
- Who is the named assessor and which water-system types are they authorised to assess?
- What training and comparable practical experience can they evidence?
- Can they provide a redacted report with schematic, asset list and control scheme?
- Who reviews the report and handles specialist or healthcare escalation?
- Which accredited laboratory will analyse samples where required?
- How are assessment findings separated from monitoring, cleaning and remedial sales?
- What professional indemnity and public liability evidence applies?
Comparable quote scorecard
| Comparison point | Provider A | Provider B | Provider C |
|---|---|---|---|
| Named assessor and relevant experience | |||
| Dutyholder and system boundary | |||
| Outlet and main-asset schedule | |||
| Schematic creation or verification | |||
| Exposure and susceptible-person review | |||
| Control evidence and measurements | |||
| Risk findings and priorities | |||
| Written control scheme | |||
| Sampling purpose and laboratory | |||
| Review triggers and corrective actions | |||
| Travel, VAT, exclusions and total fee |
Do not add the scores blindly. Missing competence, equipment scope or statutory reporting can be a stop condition rather than a small disadvantage.
Report acceptance check
- Correct responsible people and premises boundary
- Water-system schematic and assets are traceable
- Growth conditions and exposure routes are evaluated
- Susceptible people and system use are considered
- Existing controls and evidence are assessed
- Actions have owners, priorities and acceptance limits
- Written scheme states tasks, frequencies and corrective action
- Review triggers, limitations and competence needs are visible
Primary basis: HSE ACOP L8 .