A wave of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease in recent months, coupled with the Legionellosis bacteria turning up in the water systems of more institutional and commercial facilities, has returned the disease to the list of top priorities for many organizations.
Now, ASHRAE has published a revised edition of its standard that provides a more comprehensive approach to preventing the growth and spread of Legionella, according to a news release. ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2018, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems establishes minimum legionellosis risk management requirements for building water systems. The 2018 edition provides clarification of compliance requirements, as well as an update to enforceable, code-intended language to facilitate adoption of the standard for code and regulatory purposes.
The standard was developed to assist designers and building operators establish water management plans that include practices specific to the systems that exist in a particular building, campus or health care facility. The 2018 edition of Standard 188 provides:
• a description of environmental conditions that promote the growth of Legionella
• informative annexes and bibliography with suggestions, recommendations, and references to additional guidance
• minimum Legionellosis risk management requirements for buildings and associated potable and non-potable water systems
• requirements for Legionellosis control strategies and documentation.
This Quick Read was submitted by Dan Hounsell — dan.hounsell@tradepressmedia.com — editor-in-chief of Facility Maintenance Decisions, and chief editor of Facilitiesnet.com.
