Legionella Water Temperature Log: Free Template

Legionella water temperature and flushing log (free UK template)

If you run premises with showers, guest rooms or lots of little-used taps, you need to show your water system is kept at temperatures where legionella cannot grow. This log covers the two routine checks most small sites do themselves.

Print the free sheet below, or use LogBooks Hub to schedule the monthly and weekly checks and keep every reading with a timestamp.

How often: Sentinel outlet temperatures monthly. Flush little-used outlets at least weekly. Your legionella risk assessment may set other checks, such as tank inspections.

Printable A4, no sign-up or email needed.

What to record

Date of the check

Which outlet: name each sentinel outlet (usually the nearest and furthest from the tank or heater)

Hot or cold, and the temperature reached

How long the water ran before reaching that temperature

Weekly flushing of little-used outlets, such as spare showers and guest-room taps

Any reading out of range and the action taken

Who did the check

A filled-in example

Sample entries only, to show the level of detail an inspector expects.

Example Legionella water temperature and flushing log entries
Date	Outlet	Check	Temp (°C)	Time run	Action taken	Initials
01/10	Kitchen sink (nearest)	Hot	56	40 sec	None	JS
01/10	Room 12 basin (furthest)	Hot	47	1 min	Heater setting checked. Retest 02/10: 52°C	AK
01/10	Room 12 basin (furthest)	Cold	18	2 min	None	JS
05/10	Room 4 shower (little-used)	Flush	-	3 min	Flushed	JS

Why this log matters

HSE says that, as an employer or someone in control of premises, including landlords, you must identify and manage legionella risk and keep the correct records. If you have five or more employees you must record the significant findings of your risk assessment. Records of monitoring, inspections and tests should be kept for at least five years (HSE).

Target temperatures

What	Target (HSE)
Stored hot water	At least 60°C
Hot outlets	At least 50°C within one minute of running (55°C in healthcare premises)
Cold outlets	Below 20°C after running for two minutes
Little-used outlets	Flush weekly

Sentinel outlets are the representative taps you check each month, typically those nearest to and furthest from the hot water heater or cold tank. HSE technical guidance (HSG274 Part 2) also suggests checking a rotating selection of other outlets so the whole system is covered over time. Take care with hot water: at these temperatures there is a scald risk, especially for children, elderly or disabled people.

What to do if a reading is out of range

Hot outlet below 50°C within a minute: check the heater or calorifier setting (stored water should be at least 60°C), then retest. If it is still low, call your water treatment contractor or competent person.
Cold outlet at 20°C or above after two minutes: look for heat gain, such as pipes near heating or hot pipes, and flush the outlet. Report repeat failures to your competent person.
Missed flushing: flush as soon as you notice and record it. Consider removing outlets that are never used, through your risk assessment.
Write down every action and the retest result.

The digital version flags any reading outside the HSE targets and can escalate it to a manager, so failures are not left in a binder.

The easier way: keep it on your phone

In LogBooks Hub this log reminds staff when it is due, stamps each entry with who and when, can hold a photo as evidence, and goes into your audit pack PDF in one click. It is one of 90+ ready-made logbooks, from £30 a month. Works on any device in the browser, or grab the iPhone or Android app.

Frequently asked questions

What temperature should hot water be to prevent legionella?

HSE says hot water should be stored at 60°C or above, and should reach at least 50°C at outlets within one minute of running (55°C in healthcare premises). Cold water should be below 20°C after running for two minutes. Temperatures between these ranges are where legionella can grow, so these are the readings to record each month.

How often should sentinel outlets be checked?

HSE says to check water temperatures at sentinel outlets monthly, for both hot and cold. Sentinel outlets are typically the ones nearest to and furthest from the water heater or cold tank. HSE technical guidance also suggests checking a rotating selection of other outlets so that, over time, you build a picture of the whole system.

How often should little-used outlets be flushed?

HSE advises a programme of regular flushing, weekly, for infrequently used outlets. That includes showers and taps in rooms that are not being used, such as spare guest rooms or staff showers. Run the outlet long enough to draw fresh water through, take care to avoid spray, and record the date and who did it.

How long should legionella records be kept?

HSE says records of monitoring, inspections and tests should be kept for at least five years. Other records, such as your risk assessment and written control scheme, should be kept for as long as they are current and for at least two years after that. If you have five or more employees, the significant findings of your risk assessment must be written down.

Do small businesses need to worry about legionella?

Yes. HSE says employers and people in control of premises, including landlords, must identify and assess sources of legionella risk, manage and control them, and keep the right records. For a simple hot and cold water system, the routine controls are the ones on this page: keep temperatures right, flush little-used outlets and record the checks. Your risk assessment confirms whether you need more.