Why You Should Use an LCA-Accredited Company for Legionella Control
What Is the Legionella Control Association?
The Legionella Control Association (LCA) is the UK's leading trade body for companies that provide Legionella risk assessment, water treatment, and Legionella control services. Established to raise standards across the industry, the LCA operates a rigorous accreditation scheme that assesses member companies against a defined Code of Conduct and set of service delivery standards.
LCA accreditation is widely recognised by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), local authorities, insurers, and major employers as a mark of competence and professionalism in Legionella control. When you appoint an LCA-accredited company, you can be confident that they have been independently assessed and meet the standards required to deliver safe, effective, and compliant Legionella management services.
Why Choosing the Right Company Matters
Under ACOP L8, dutyholders — those responsible for water systems in commercial and public buildings — are required to appoint a competent person to help manage Legionella risk. The law does not define competence in precise terms, but it is clear that the appointed person or company must have the necessary knowledge, skills, and experience to carry out the work safely and effectively.
The Legionella control industry is largely unregulated, which means that any company can offer Legionella risk assessments or water treatment services without formal accreditation. This creates a significant risk for dutyholders: appointing an incompetent or unscrupulous contractor can result in inadequate risk management, inaccurate assessments, and — in the worst case — a Legionella outbreak that puts lives at risk.
Choosing an LCA-accredited company is one of the most effective ways to manage this risk and demonstrate that you have exercised due diligence in appointing a competent contractor.
What Does LCA Accreditation Involve?
To achieve and maintain LCA accreditation, member companies must:
- Demonstrate technical competence: Staff must hold relevant qualifications and have demonstrable experience in Legionella risk assessment and control.
- Adhere to the LCA Code of Conduct: This sets out the professional and ethical standards that accredited companies must meet, including honest and transparent dealings with clients.
- Meet defined service delivery standards: The LCA publishes detailed standards for key services including Legionella risk assessments, written control schemes, and water treatment programmes. Accredited companies must demonstrate that their services meet these standards.
- Undergo independent assessment: LCA accreditation is not self-certified. Companies are assessed by an independent body and must demonstrate ongoing compliance to maintain their accreditation.
- Carry appropriate insurance: Accredited companies must hold adequate professional indemnity and public liability insurance.
The Benefits of Using an LCA-Accredited Company
1. Confidence in Competence
LCA accreditation provides independent verification that a company has the knowledge, skills, and systems to deliver Legionella control services to a recognised standard. You do not have to take the contractor's word for it — the accreditation does the due diligence for you.
2. Legal Protection
If you are ever investigated by the HSE or face a civil claim following a Legionella-related incident, being able to demonstrate that you appointed an LCA-accredited contractor is strong evidence of due diligence. It shows that you took reasonable steps to appoint a competent person, as required by ACOP L8.
3. Quality Assurance
LCA-accredited companies follow defined service delivery standards, which means you can expect a consistent, high-quality service. Risk assessments, written control schemes, and monitoring programmes produced by LCA members are more likely to be thorough, accurate, and fit for purpose.
4. Up-to-Date Knowledge
The LCA keeps its members informed of changes to legislation, guidance, and best practice. Accredited companies are therefore more likely to be working to the latest standards — important in a field where guidance is periodically updated.
5. Accountability
LCA-accredited companies are bound by the LCA Code of Conduct and can be held accountable if they fall short of the required standards. The LCA operates a complaints procedure, giving clients a route to raise concerns if they are not satisfied with the service they have received.
How to Verify LCA Accreditation
You can verify whether a company holds current LCA accreditation by searching the LCA member directory on the LCA website. Always check that the company's accreditation is current before appointing them — accreditation can lapse if a company fails to meet the ongoing requirements.
When requesting quotes from Legionella control contractors, ask them to confirm their LCA accreditation number and check it against the directory. A reputable company will be happy to provide this information.
LCA Accreditation and Microbiological Testing
LCA accreditation covers the companies that carry out Legionella risk assessments, water treatment, and control services. For the microbiological testing of water samples — which requires laboratory analysis — you should also ensure that the laboratory used holds UKAS accreditation to ISO/IEC 17025 for the specific tests being carried out.
Together, LCA-accredited contractors and UKAS-accredited laboratories form the gold standard for Legionella compliance: competent risk management in the field, backed by accurate and legally defensible laboratory results.
Our UKAS-accredited water testing kits are designed to work seamlessly alongside the services of LCA-accredited contractors. Whether your contractor is carrying out a routine monitoring visit or a post-remediation verification survey, our kits provide the compliant sampling solution they need.
Summary: Key Questions to Ask Your Legionella Contractor
- Are you a current member of the Legionella Control Association (LCA)?
- Can you provide your LCA accreditation number for verification?
- Which laboratory do you use for microbiological analysis, and is it UKAS-accredited?
- Do your risk assessments and written control schemes meet the LCA service delivery standards?
- Do you hold current professional indemnity and public liability insurance?
Asking these questions before appointing a contractor will help you make an informed choice and protect your organisation from the risks of inadequate Legionella management.
If you have questions about compliant water testing or need advice on the right testing kit for your system, get in touch with our team — we are here to help.