Standard to Manage Legionellosis Risk

Looking to reduce the 8,000 to 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ Disease that are reported in the U.S. each year, of which 10% are fatal, ASHRAE has released a new standard to protect building water systems from the legionella bacteria. In addition to Legionnaires’ Disease, the water-borne pathogen can also cause less-serious illnesses such as Pontiac Fever, and most U.S. infections are caused by exposure to Legionella in building water systems.

ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems is designed to be used in human-occupied facilities during all part of a building’s lifecycles from design to operations and maintenance. The standard’s requirements include:

1. Minimum risk requirements for facilities and associated potable and non-potable water systems.
2. The establishment of a team and a water management program to ensure compliance with the standard.
3. Specific requirements for what the Legionellosis management strategies must achieve and how efforts must be documented, though specific strategy use and application are not mandated by the standard. 

Wondering how to control legionella in your own building? Take a look at this guide and download the ASHRAE standard here.