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Proper maintenance and risk assessment of water systems are vital to prevent Legionella
Quensus solutions and advanced reporting help you streamline compliance with regulations and legal requirements, allowing for safer, healthier, smarter living environments.
Legionella is a pathogenic group of bacteria that cause pneumonia-type illnesses, with the most serious being Legionnaires’ disease. You usually get exposed by breathing in contaminated mist from water from hot tubs, showers, taps or other water sources.
Many organisations know about the dangers of waterborne Legionella, but few grasp the importance of risk mitigation and water system monitoring. Cases are on the rise, posing serious health risks for tenants, as documented in the Legionellosis Statistics Report 2017–2023.
While most of those who are exposed to Legionella will not become ill, it’s still vital to ensure water systems and their constituent parts are properly maintained. As a property owner or duty holder, you're legally required to prevent Legionella under the Health and Safety at Work Act.
To remain compliant, businesses need to assess risks, manage any identified issues, prevent the possibility of an outbreak and documentation actions.
Legionella bacteria thrive between 25 °C and 42 °C, but heating water above 50 °C kills 90% of strains. Hence, effective Legionella control relies on maintaining a pumping system water temperature above this threshold.
In buildings, a heating loop is used to circulate hot water around and keep the temperature constant, however, there are “legs” which must branch off in order to supply mixers to taps and showers. When these outlets have not been used for a while, the water in these legs stagnates and converges to a temperature where Legionella thrives.
Many outbreaks are linked to sub-standard risk assessments that overlook the different parts of a plumbing network. For duty holders, routine monitoring and inspection is essential. Nowhere is this more critical than in public washrooms, where complex circulating hot water systems create ideal conditions for bacterial growth.
With the potentially fatal consequences of Legionella contamination, prevention is not only a legal obligation, but a core component of responsible building management.
In response to widespread shortfalls in Legionella risk mitigation, the HSE has emphasised compliance by publishing clear technical guidance in HSG274 Part 1 and Part 2 alongside the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) L8. These are considered the current technical standard for cooling towers & condensers, hot and cold-water systems, spa pools, decorative fountains and other water systems.
Only duty holders who follow these documents are considered to meet their legal obligations. Failure to do so can lead to enforcement action and risks negative publicity and business disruption
LeakNet is primarily used to shut the water off, but it can be used to turn the water on too. To restrict Legionella growth, we can automatically purge the outlet when there hasn’t been any consumption for a certain amount of time. This ensures water never becomes stagnant inside the pipe.
In this way, we reduce time spent on legionella compliance by over 80% and save up to £20 per tap annually on water and energy waste.
Because the system records everything online, you will have full logs of the exact time and amount of water consumed on each purge. We can also install wireless temperature sensors clipped onto the pipe so the water temperature can be documented too. As such, you can access all of the documentation needed to quickly demonstrate L8 compliance and satisfying insurers who underwrite public health risks while reducing liability exposure
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Explore our use cases and discover how Quensus can help you prevent Legionella growth for a safer living environment
Our product range consistently outperform other leak-detection technologies.
Compare LeakNet with a feature-by-feature breakdown highlighting our superior performance.
Choosing the right system can be complex, but our expert team is here to help.
Up to 7 credits for reducing water usage per person per day compared against a baseline performance. For example, use water-saving WCs, tap aerators, low-flow showers, waterless urinals, and greywater/rainwater for recycling non-potable water.
Our expertise in smart water metering and data analytics allows us to monitor and analyse water consumption patterns, providing valuable insights to identify water-saving opportunities and track progress towards reduction targets.
Installing our device on the main meter earns you 4 points.
Sub-metering building areas consuming 10% or more of the building's total water demand, or metering multi-tenant buildings per tenanted area, achieves an additional 2 credits.
Up to 4 credits (each) are available based on the water efficiency of the following assets to reduce overall water consumption in the building:
WAT02 - Water-efficient equipment: toilets
WAT03 - Water-efficient equipment: urinals
WAT04 - Water-efficient equipment: hand washing basins
WAT05 - Water-efficient equipment: showers
WAT06 - Water-efficient equipment: white goods
Our experience in specifying and installing water-efficient fixtures can help building owners select and implement the most appropriate solutions to achieve significant water savings.
Up to 4 credits for installing a robust leak detection system, which plays a vital role in conserving water resources. By promptly identifying and addressing leaks, buildings can significantly reduce water wastage, contributing to a more sustainable water footprint. 1 credit has traditionally been given for a leak detection system that can detect a major water leak on the mains water supply within the building and/or between the building and the utilities water meter.
Our advanced leak detection technology, including smart metering and real-time monitoring, can quickly identify and locate leaks, enabling prompt repairs and minimising water wastage, potentially enabling you to achieve the full 4 credits after a complete calendar year.
Up to 4 credits for proactive measures to prevent leaks. Proper installation and maintenance of flow control devices, whether in sanitary fittings or larger residential complexes, are essential for minimising water loss and ensuring the longevity of plumbing systems.
Our LeakNet system goes beyond traditional leak prevention methods. With AI-powered monitoring, real-time alerts, and automatic shut-off capabilities, LeakNet actively identifies and stops leaks before they cause significant damage or water wastage. This proactive approach aligns perfectly with the BREEAM focus on minimising water loss and ensuring the longevity of plumbing systems.
Up to 4 credits can be awarded depending on the extent and effectiveness of the isolation valve strategy within the building's water supply system, which allows controlled shut-off of specific sections of the water supply, enabling targeted maintenance or repairs without disrupting the entire system. 1 credit has traditionally been given for installing a flow control device to each WC area/facility so that water is only supplied when needed.
Our smart shut-off valves seamlessly integrate into any plumbing system, providing the isolation capabilities necessary for targeted maintenance and repairs.
This not only meets the traditional BREEAM requirement for isolation valves but also enhances it with intelligent control and automation.
By enabling quick and precise shut-off of specific sections, LeakNet minimises disruption and water wastage during maintenance activities, maximizing the potential for achieving up to 4 credits.
The automatic shut-off functionality also serves as an innovative flow control device, securing an additional credit for controlling water supply to WC areas.
Up to 4 credits for using alternative water sources and efficient water-using technologies. Rainwater harvesting, greywater recycling, and the use of water-efficient fixtures are examples of strategies that can substantially decrease reliance on mains water supply.
While we don't directly address alternative water sources, LeakNet's ability to dramatically reduce water wastage through automatic shutoff and leak prevention contributes to lowering mains water consumption.
By minimising unnecessary water loss, LeakNet supports the overarching goal of WAT10, contributing to achieving the maximum credits available.
Up to 4 credits for accurate monitoring and reporting of water consumption data, which is fundamental to effective water management. By tracking consumption patterns, building owners and operators can identify areas for improvement and implement targeted water-saving measures. This will include internal sub-meters to monitor the impacts of inefficiencies and leakage and encourage more effective water management.
Our smart metering and data analytics capabilities can provide detailed insights into water consumption patterns, facilitating the identification of inefficiencies and enabling targeted water-saving interventions.
Up to 4 credits for re-using water for non-potable purposes, such as irrigation or toilet flushing, reduces the demand on treated water supplies. This credit promotes innovative solutions for sustainable water sourcing.
Our experience in monitoring water recycling systems, such as greywater and rainwater harvesting solutions, can help track inefficiencies in these systems and maximise the reuse of water to reduce environmental impact.
Up to 4 credits for standardised reporting of water consumption, benchmarking, and comparison across different buildings and portfolios. This transparency encourages continuous improvement in water efficiency and supports informed decision-making.
Obtain 2 credits by using our data management and reporting tools to automate the collection, analysis, and reporting of water consumption data, providing clear and actionable insights to support decision-making.
Earn 1 extra credit when you report on it internally, and another credit if you publish this information in an annual report.
A comprehensive water strategy goes beyond individual measures by establishing a holistic approach to water management. It includes regular maintenance of water systems, water efficiency, water reuse, and leak detection. The strategy should also include a plan for monitoring and reporting water consumption ensuring optimal performance and longevity, as well as promoting awareness and behavioral changes among building occupants to foster a water-conscious culture.
Up to 8 credits are available depending on the comprehensiveness of the water strategy and the inclusion of specific elements such as:
A proactive maintenance policy for installed water systems
Targets for reducing water consumption
A plan for monitoring and reporting water consumption
A plan for engaging building occupants in water conservation efforts
Our holistic approach to water management and expertise in water efficiency, reuse, and leak detection can help building owners develop and implement comprehensive water strategies that achieve long-term sustainability and cost savings.
Every building’s risk profile and budget differ. Unlike one-size-fits-all systems, Quensus engineers a bespoke leak-detection solution around your insurer’s requirements and cost constraints - saving you thousands in wasted water and premiums. There is unlimited number of options, but we have simplified leak prevention into our four main tiers:
A combination of bronze, silver and gold will provide the most effective leak prevention system available.
Automatic Flow Monitoring with Smart Shutoff Valves on the boosted supply to each unit/apartment. The most effective solution post-handover over the lifetime of the building.
Automatic Flow Monitoring with Smart Shutoff Valves on the boosted supply to each floor (or each riser if plumbing is vertically fed). Ideal during construction because each floor can be isolated individually.
The absolute minimum you should be looking for is Automatic Flow Monitoring on the Mains Cold Water System and Boosted Cold Water System for the whole building. This is covered in the BREEAM WAT03 standard.
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Quensus Ltd
Company Number: 09530781
VAT Number: GB251797479
Head Office
Strelley Hall, Nottingham,
England, NG8 6PE
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