In practice, if a dispute goes to court (e.g., a Legionella outbreak or burst pipe flood), the judge will ask: "Did you follow BS 8558?" If you cannot produce a to prove you followed the guide, you may be found negligent.
If a system is idle for more than 30 days, it must be representatively sampled and may require re-disinfection before use. bs 8558 pdf
It is crucial to understand that BS 8558 does not stand alone. It is designed to provide , which cover general requirements, design, pipe sizing, installation, and operation/maintenance of water systems. While BS EN 806 often omits specific UK applications, BS 8558 fills these national gaps. For instance, BS EN 806 does not cover underground pipework, whereas BS 8558 provides explicit guidance on pipework within the curtilage of a building. In practice, if a dispute goes to court (e