Essential HSG282 Guidance
for Safe Hot Tub Management: What You Need to Know
If you run a holiday cottage, lodge, or Airbnb in Cornwall — or manage hot tubs in any commercial setting — following the HSG282 guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is essential. These guidelines help keep your hot tub safe, guest-ready, and legally compliant, while reducing the risk of waterborne bacteria such as Legionella.
This page breaks down HSG282 in a simple, practical way so you can put it into action.
🧾 What is HSG282?
HSG282 is a health and safety guide created by the HSE that provides advice on:
- Hot tub design, installation, and setup
- Water treatment and testing routines
- Maintenance schedules to keep users safe
- Legal duties for owners and operators
It’s mainly aimed at holiday-let owners, lodge parks, hotels, leisure businesses, and service suppliers, but even private owners can benefit from understanding the basics.
Need help staying compliant?
We offer a complete HSG282-compliant hot tub service for holiday lets across Cornwall — including water testing, cleaning, log sheets, and emergency support.
See our Holiday Let Hot Tub Care page here
We work with holiday-let owners across Cornwall, including Truro, Newquay, Falmouth, St Austell, and Penzance.
🛠️ Key Recommendations
1. Design & Setup
- Choose a hot tub with good water circulation and easy access for cleaning.
- Install effective filtration and disinfection systems.
- Use materials that resist corrosion and bacteria growth.
2. Maintenance & Operation
- Follow a regular cleaning and disinfection schedule.
- Keep a maintenance logbook for every clean, water change, and check.
- Operate the hot tub at the recommended temperature (not too low or high).
3. Water Testing
- Test water for pH, sanitiser levels, and clarity regularly (HSG282 recommends at least three times daily in commercial use).
- Use approved test kits and follow manufacturer instructions.
- Take immediate action if tests show unsafe levels.
4. Legal Responsibilities
- Conduct regular risk assessments and keep them up to date.
- Make sure all staff and cleaners are trained to carry out water tests correctly.
- Stay informed about updates to HSE guidance.
📚 Why Following HSG282 Matters
Following HSG282 reduces the risk of:
- Legionella and other waterborne bacteria
- Guest complaints or health incidents
- Legal action or enforcement notices
- Costly downtime from having to close your hot tub
And it gives you:
- Safer hot tubs for your guests
- Evidence of compliance if something goes wrong
- Peace of mind that you’re running your business responsibly
❓ Frequently Asked Questions
Anyone who operates hot tubs for commercial use, including holiday parks, lodges, cottages, hotels, gyms, and rental properties.
At least 3 times per day when the hot tub is in use — and always before new guests arrive.
Keep a written logbook with test results, cleaning schedules, and maintenance notes — this is a key part of compliance.
No, not when managed properly. HSG282 is designed to make hot tubs safe and enjoyable.
🔗 Learn More & Next Steps
For full details, you can download the complete HSG282 guidance from the HSE website.
If you manage a holiday let or rental property and want to make hot tub compliance stress-free, check out our Holiday Let Hot Tub Care service page — we handle cleaning, testing, water changes, and log sheets so you don’t have to.
Link to other HSG282 related guides : HSG282
