Flushing little-used outlets: what HSG274 asks for
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- An outlet that isn't used at least once a week should be flushed at least weekly.
- Run it long enough to draw fresh water through — until the temperature has stabilised.
- Record every flush: the outlet, the date, who did it.
- If an outlet is never needed, consider removing it rather than flushing it for ever.
Why little-used outlets matter
Legionella bacteria grow best in water that's lukewarm and still. A shower in a room nobody has stayed in for a fortnight is exactly that: the water in the pipework has had time to settle at room temperature. When someone finally turns it on, the first spray is the one that matters.
HSG274 Part 2 (paragraph 2.77) asks you to identify these outlets and either bring them into regular use or flush them on a routine you can evidence.
What counts as "little-used"?
Any outlet not used for a week or more. In practice that's usually:
- Empty hotel or care-home rooms
- Rooms out of service, between guests or residents for more than a week.
- Spare showers in changing rooms
- End-of-row showers people skip, and accessible showers used occasionally.
- Void flats and properties
- Between tenancies, or while works are carried out.
- Seasonal areas
- Pool-side showers, staff blocks and function suites that close for part of the year.
How to flush, and for how long
Open both hot and cold fully and let them run until the water reaching the outlet is fresh from the system — typically a few minutes, until the temperature has stopped changing. For showers, minimise spray: lower the head into a bucket or the tray, or remove it, and keep your face away.
What to record
For each flush: which outlet, the date and time, who did it, and anything unusual — discoloured water, a fault, a temperature that didn't reach target. Keep the records for at least five years.
How ShowerSafety handles this
Mark a room as out of use and its outlets go on the weekly flush list until it's back in use. Every flush is logged with name, date and time.
This guide is a plain-English summary, not legal advice. Read HSG274 Part 2 itself, and follow your site's written scheme and risk assessment.