Odour Risk Assessment
Uncontrolled odours are awful for your business, and are one of the most common causes of complaints to local authorities. For businesses like yours, this can quickly lead to reputational damage or enforcement action.
A professionally carried odour risk assessment will allow you to show regulators and your stakeholders that you are taking odour control and air management seriously, identifying risks and demonstrating steps have been taken to ensure compliance. At Water & Air Management, we provide business owners nationwide with assessments aligned with recognised UK guidance, including DEFRA odour risk assessment methodology and IAQM standards.
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What is an Odour Risk Assessment?
An odour risk assessment evaluates how likely your site is to cause nuisance to surrounding areas due to the odours coming from it. It considers both the odour and how it behaves once released into the environment. This includes:
- – How strong the odours are and where they come from
- – How close nearby properties are and how likely they are to be affected
- – How air moves around the site and surrounding buildings
- – How well your current odour control measures are working
The outcome is a clear understanding of your risk level, supported by practical recommendations and regulation-backed compliance.
Why Do Odour Issues Occur?
Odour problems are rarely caused by a single issue, and more often stem from a combination of how a system is designed to operate and be maintained over time.
Some of the most common odour sources are:
- – Extraction systems that are too small or not fit for purpose
- – Filters that are missing, worn out or not suited to the application
- – Discharge points that are too low or poorly positioned
- – Grease and residue building up inside ductwork
- – Increased cooking volumes without upgrading the system
These issues often go unnoticed until complaints are made, which is why early assessment is so important.
Odour Risk Assessments for Kitchen and Extract Systems
For food businesses, odour control is closely tied to how well the extraction system performs. A kitchen odour risk assessment looks at whether the system is capable of handling the type and volume of cooking taking place.
This often leads to a more detailed extract canopy odour risk assessment where we review airflow, filtration, discharge arrangements and more, in context.
It is not uncommon to find systems that were suitable at installation but no longer match current demand. Even minor business changes like small menu updates or changes to your opening hours can impact odour output and result in your systems being out of pace.
What’s Included in Our Odour Risk Assessments?
Our process is designed to give you clarity and actionable insights, beyond just a final report.
1. Site and System Review
We examine how your site operates and how odours are being caused and extracted.
You’ll gain a clear view of how your current setup is performing, not just how it was intended to work.
2. Identification of Nearby Receptors
We assess the surrounding area to understand who or what could be affected. You’ll get clarity on where your exposure lies and how likely complaints and scrutiny from regulators may be.
3. Odour Risk Evaluation
Using DEFRA odour risk assessment principles, we assess how odours behave once released the level of impact they may have.
You get a grounded, evidence-based view of your risk rather than assumptions.
4. Extract System Assessment
Where relevant, we carry out a detailed kitchen odour risk assessment or extract canopy odour risk assessment to understand how well the system is performing under real conditions.
You can see whether your system is genuinely fit for purpose or likely to cause issues as you operate.
5. Review of Existing Controls
We look at everything from filtration to maintenance to existing odour management. This will help you understand what is effective and were improvements will make a difference.
6. Recommendations and Next Steps
We provide clear, practical guidance aligned with current UK standards. You leave with a straightforward plan that supports compliance and reduces the risk of complaints.
From Assessment to Management Plan
Where required, we take this further by developing an odour management plan as part of our process. This is built around DEFRA and IAQM guidance and reflects how your site actually operates. It sets out how odour is controlled and how issues are handled if they arise.
For you, it means having a clear and defensible approach in place rather than reacting to problems after the fact.
Get in Touch for a Free Quote
If you need an odour risk assessment, whether for planning, compliance or an ongoing issue, we can help you take control of the situation.
Get in touch to discuss your site requirements and the next steps.
