The Legionella Control Association
Updated 12 September 2026
Summary
The Legionella Control Association is the UK trade body for water hygiene service providers. Its registration scheme is not a legal requirement, but it is the de facto competence standard for anyone commissioning a legionella risk assessment from a contractor, and CQC, NHS trusts, local authorities, and major letting agencies will often insist on LCA registration as a minimum.
What it does
The LCA is a voluntary membership body whose Code of Conduct sets out technical and ethical standards that registered companies must meet. The Code covers competence of staff, documentation of work carried out, record keeping, customer complaints, and continuous improvement. LCA-registered companies are audited periodically against the Code, and registration can be withdrawn for serious breaches.
The LCA was founded in 1999 in response to growing concern that the water hygiene industry had no recognised competence framework. It now has several hundred registered member companies covering risk assessment, monitoring, sampling, treatment, and training.
Registration is not the same as individual competence. An LCA-registered company will use individuals whose competence is demonstrated through City & Guilds qualifications, sector-specific training, and documented experience. Duty holders should verify that the specific assessor allocated to their premises has the right level of competence for the work, not simply that the employing company is LCA-registered.
Who it applies to
LCA registration is relevant to any organisation commissioning legionella risk assessment, water hygiene monitoring, treatment, or sampling work from an external provider. It is voluntary, but it is the standard most often specified in NHS, education, and corporate procurement.
Free legionella risk assessment template
A structured Word document following the five-step approach in ACOP L8. Covers risk identification, written scheme, monitoring, and records. If it isn't written down, you can't evidence it.
Follows ACoP L8 and HSG274 Part 2. Free. No spam.
Key obligations
There is no legal obligation on a duty holder to use an LCA-registered company, but using one discharges much of the due diligence burden of selecting a competent contractor. The Code of Conduct gives the duty holder contractual protection that they would not otherwise have if the provider fails to deliver to standard.
Penalties for non-compliance
The LCA is not a regulator and cannot impose fines or penalties on duty holders. Its sanctions apply only to its own member companies, up to and including removal from the register.
Read the full text: The Legionella Control Association on legislation.gov.uk
Related water hygiene products and services from trusted UK providers will appear here.
Free legionella risk assessment template
A structured Word document following the five-step approach in ACOP L8. Covers risk identification, written scheme, monitoring, and records. If it isn't written down, you can't evidence it.
Follows ACoP L8 and HSG274 Part 2. Free. No spam.