Form library · Facilities and maintenance
Legionella temperature log
A monthly water temperature log for legionella control. Record the flow and return at each hot water cylinder or calorifier, then each sentinel and representative outlet with its temperature. The form warns when hot water is below 50°C (55°C in healthcare premises), cold water is 20°C or above, the cylinder is below 60°C or the return is below 50°C. Every question is listed below, and you can fill the live form in on this page.
Ready to use from the form library, and every question is yours to edit. Trial from £1, cancel any time.
Try it on your phone
Try it on this phone
Fill in the legionella temperature log on your phone now
See how the legionella temperature log looks on your phone
Scan the code with your phone camera. It opens the real form, no sign-up needed.
Open the live example and fill it in, just as your team would on site. No sign-up needed.
See it on this phoneEvery question is editable. Add this form to your account, then change the wording, add or remove questions and options, and make it fit your own jobs.
What temperatures should be recorded for legionella?
HSE guidance is to check water temperatures at sentinel outlets every month and record the findings. Hot water should reach at least 50°C within 1 minute of running (55°C in healthcare premises), and should be stored at 60°C or above. Cold water should be below 20°C after running for 2 minutes. Sentinel outlets are the nearest and furthest outlets from each cylinder and tank.
Last updated . Facts checked by the SiteSurvey team on 17 October 2026 against HSE: Legionnaires' disease, things to consider, HSE: hot and cold water systems, HSE: sentinel outlets, cold water and HSE HSG274, Legionnaires' disease: technical guidance.
Try the legionella temperature log form live
Answer a few questions and watch it adapt. Your answers are not saved, and any photos you add are deleted within the hour.
Open the completed example to see fictional readings, notes, photos and calculations. Choose Blank form to try entering your own answers.
Want to see one filled in? See a completed legionella temperature log report (PDF), made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit.
Every question in the legionella temperature log template
A legionella monthly temperature log: hot and cold sentinel outlet readings, cylinder flow and return temperatures and TMV inlets, with warnings when a reading misses the HSE target. 4 sections and 55 questions. Follow-up questions and guidance appear only when an answer calls for them, so the person on site never sees the ones that do not apply.
Make it your own: every question is editable
This is a starting point, not a fixed form. Once it is in your SiteSurvey account you can reword any question, add or remove questions, sections and answer options, and add your own logo, so it fits the way your team works and the jobs you do.
Details you only enter once
Add this form to a project in SiteSurvey and it fills in what the project already knows, so nobody on site retypes it and every form on the job uses the same names. Anything filled in can still be changed.
- Project: the project name
- Client: the project's customer
- Site: the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site address: the site address, from the space or the project
Check details
- ProjectShort answerFills in from the project name
- ClientShort answerFills in from the project's customer
- Site*Short answerFills in from the site, when the form is opened for a space or a product
- Site addressShort answerFills in from the site address, from the space or the project
- Date of the check*Date
- TimeTime
- Checked by*Short answer
- Thermometer used and its calibration dateShort answer
- Type of premises*Choose one
- Healthcare or care premises
- Other premises
- GuidanceHSE guidance (Approved Code of Practice L8 and HSG274 Part 2). Check the water temperature at sentinel outlets (the nearest and furthest outlets from each cylinder and tank) every month and record the findings. Hot water should be stored at 60°C or above and reach at least 50°C within 1 minute at outlets (55°C in healthcare premises). Cold water should be below 20°C after running for 2 minutes. Check representative outlets on a rotation so the whole system is covered over time.
Hot water cylinders and calorifiers
- Are there hot water cylinders or calorifiers to check?Yes or No
- Cylinders by plant room or areaRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:Shown when “Are there hot water cylinders or calorifiers to check?” is Yes
- Plant room or area*Short answer
For example Basement plant room
- Cylinders and calorifiers hereRepeat for each cylinder. Each one asks:Shown when “Are there hot water cylinders or calorifiers to check?” is Yes
- Cylinder or calorifier reference*Short answer
- Scan the asset labelScan a label: asset number, serial number
Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
- Position in this areaShort answer
- Flow temperature at the top of the cylinder (°C)*Number
- WarningBelow 60°C. HSE says hot water should be stored at 60°C or above.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Is there a return leg on a circulating loop?Yes or No
- Return temperature (°C)NumberShown when “Is there a return leg on a circulating loop?” is Yes
- WarningReturn below 50°C. HSE guidance is that calorifier return temperatures should not be below 50°C. The loop may not be keeping the whole system hot.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Cylinder temperature rechecksRepeat for each reading. Each one asks:
- Reading date and time*Short answer
- Cylinder flow temperature (°C)*Number
- Return temperature (°C)Number
- Recorded assessmentChoose one
- Meets stated criterion
- Does not meet stated criterion
- Not assessed
- Notes / action takenNotes
- Photos for this readingPhotos
Sentinel and representative outlets
- Outlets by floor or areaRepeat for each entry. Each one asks:
- Floor or area*Short answer
For example Ground floor west toilets
- Outlets checked hereRepeat for each outlet. Each one asks:
- Outlet reference*Short answer
- Scan the outlet labelScan a label: asset number
Optional. Scan the label or tag to capture its numbers.
- Position in this area*Short answer
- What are you measuring?*Choose one
- Hot outlet
- Cold outlet
- Hot supply to a TMV
- OutletChoose one
- Sentinel: nearest
- Sentinel: furthest
- Representative outlet
- Temperature (°C)*Number
Hot: within 1 minute of running. Cold: after running for 2 minutes.
- WarningBelow target. Hot water should reach at least 50°C within 1 minute (55°C in healthcare premises).Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- WarningAbove target. Cold water should be below 20°C after running for 2 minutes.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Result*Choose one
- Pass
- Fail
- Action taken or neededNotesShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Photos of the failed outletPhotosShown only when the answers above make it relevant
- Outlet temperature rechecksRepeat for each reading. Each one asks:
- Reading date and time*Short answer
- Outlet water temperature (°C)*Number
- Time after opening outlet (seconds)Number
- Recorded assessmentChoose one
- Meets stated criterion
- Does not meet stated criterion
- Not assessed
- Notes / action takenNotes
- Photos for this readingPhotos
- This floor or area: outlets failedWorked out by the form
- This floor or area: outlets passedWorked out by the form
- Outlets failedWorked out by the form
- Outlets passedWorked out by the form
- Which representative outlets are due next month?Notes
- Next monthly check dueDate
HSE guidance is to check sentinel outlet temperatures every month.
- Days to the next checkWorked out by the formShown when “Date of the check” is answered and “Next monthly check due” is answered
- CheckThe next check date is before the date of this check. Check the date.Shown only when the answers above make it relevant
Actions and sign-off
- Are further actions needed?Yes or No
- Further actionsRepeat for each action. Each one asks:Shown when “Are further actions needed?” is Yes
- What needs doing?*Notes
- PriorityChoose one
- Urgent
- High
- Medium
- Low
- Who will do it?Short answer
- Due dateDate
- StatusChoose one
- Open
- In progress
- Completed
- Inspector name*Short answer
- Position or companyShort answer
- Inspector signatureSignature
- CheckSigning records what was found on the day. It does not make unsafe equipment safe or replace a thorough examination, design check or service by a competent person.
See it filled in
A completed legionella temperature log report, made by SiteSurvey from a fictional site visit: every answer, the photos, the guidance that applied and the sign-off, ready to send as a PDF.
Legionella temperature log FAQs
What is a sentinel outlet?
HSE describes sentinel outlets as the nearest and furthest outlets from hot and cold water cylinders and tanks. Checking them each month shows whether the temperatures are being held across the whole system. Representative outlets are checked on a rotation so the whole system is covered over time.
Why is the hot water target 55°C in care homes?
HSE's guidance sets 55°C within 1 minute at outlets in healthcare premises, and 50°C elsewhere. Choose the type of premises at the start and the form applies the right target to every hot outlet reading.
What about outlets with a thermostatic mixing valve?
Measure the hot water supply to the TMV rather than the blended water. HSE says that where TMVs are fitted you should measure the temperature at the hot water inlet, and the supply should be at least 50°C within 1 minute of running. Choose Hot supply to a TMV for that outlet and the form applies the same hot water target as other hot outlets.
Where do I measure the cylinder temperature?
HSE says the thermometer pocket at the top of the cylinder, and on the return leg if fitted, is a useful point for accurate measurement. The form records the flow temperature and, where there is a circulating loop, the return. It warns below 60°C flow and below 50°C return.
Do I have to record the results?
Yes. HSE says monthly checks should be carried out and the findings recorded, and for cold water sentinel checks that you must record your findings. The form keeps each month's readings with the outlet, the thermometer used and its calibration date.
Does this replace a legionella risk assessment?
No. The risk assessment decides which outlets to monitor and how often. This log records the monthly checks the assessment calls for. Little-used outlets also need weekly flushing, which has its own record.
Related
Related templates
Templates that go with the legionella temperature log form
A thermostatic mixing valve (TMV) service record: each valve with its location, outlet and type, set and measured mixed temperatures, fail-safe test, strainers and result, with a warning above 44°C.
A weekly flushing record for little-used outlets: each tap, shower and hose with how long it was flushed, whether it was done without spray, the temperature reached and showerhead cleaning dates.
Legionella risk assessment for a hot and cold water system: who is responsible, tanks and heaters, outlet temperatures, little-used outlets, findings and actions.
A cold water storage tank record covering tank identity, safe access, visible hygiene condition, monitoring references, defects and remedial follow-up.
Use this legionella temperature log form with your team
Add it from the form library in one click, change any question, and every completed form becomes a branded PDF report.
Start your trial →