Hot tub safety and maintenance

& maintenance Hot tub safety

Cleaning your hot tub This is a really big part of taking care of your hot tub. There are a few things you need to make sure are always kept clean. The Health & Safety Executive Guidance (HSG282) ‘The control of legionella and other infectious agents in spa-pool systems’ explains how to manage and control these risks. Please see the table overleaf, an extract from the main requirements as described in the current official guidance, this document may be downloaded free from the HSE website using the following link: www.hse.gov. uk/pubns/books/hsg282.htm. and we strongly advise that you do so.

We also advise you to follow any other recommendations from the hot tub manufacturer and/or supplier. However, we expect you to maintain your hot tubs to a safe condition to ensure the safety of your family, your guests and others using the park.

Subletting with Away Resorts If you choose to sublet using the Away Resorts managed letting scheme, Away Resorts will take on the responsibility of the tub during the period it is being let for. You can be assured that your hot tub is managed within the guidelines laid down, for the dates it is being let out on. Unfortunately, we do have to charge for this service. You will also need to ensure your hot tub is left empty when passed over to us. If you are privately letting your holiday home If you are letting your Holiday Home privately and not on the Away Resorts Managed Letting scheme, you will be deemed to be undertaking a commercial operation and your legal responsibilities with regards to the management of hot tubs will be more stringent. This will include the completion of suitable and sufficient risk assessments, implementing a strict water testing regime and management procedures - please see overleaf for more information.

When your hot tub is not in use, it must always be covered with a suitable and secured lid to prevent accidental access by unsupervised children and potential drowning. When draining your hot tub the water must not be emptied on to the grass or into the lakes. We may conduct spot checks of owners hot tubs throughout the year. If we deem a hot tub to not comply with safety guidelines we may conduct a spot check water sample test. The results of the test will be communicated to you and you will be charged for this test and expected to action the findings. Unfortunately, should the hot tub continue to be poorly managed, we reserve the right to insist the hot tub is removed.

If you are privately letting your holiday home – The management of the hot tub is the Holiday Home Owners responsibility. In addition to the below guidelines being implemented, you must have a clear set of rules advising your guests displayed at the hot tub and a suitable risk assessment. If you are using the Away Resorts managed letting scheme, we will manage this for the dates it is being sublet. We ask that your hot tub is empty the day before it is due to go on to the sublet period.

Hot tub actions How often

You must keep records Replace cartridge filter with cleaned cartridge At water replacement

Inspect strainers and grilles At water replacement

Record incidents and remedy issues As appropriate

Check any automatic systems are operating correctly Daily, where fitted

Drain hot tub, clean whole system including strainers and refill Between each group of users or at least weekly, whichever is shorter

Inspect accessible pipe work and jets and clean as necessary Weekly

Disinfect flexible hoses Monthly bad stuff!

Microbiological testing Monthly for ACC, coliforms, E coli, P aeruginosa and quarterly for legionella

Clean input air filter Monthly

Full chemical test dependent on water quality As determined by risk assessment

Disinfectant/pH controller - clean electrode and check calibration Monthly, where fitted, or according to manufacturers’ instructions

Check, clean, disinfect and dry filter cartridge Between each group of users or weekly, whichever is shorter

Clean and disinfect airlines Weekly where appropriate