How Can We Reduce Legionella in Water Systems?

There are an estimated 8,000 to 18,000 cases of Legionnaries’ disease in the U.S. each year, with most of these cases deriving from building water systems.

Seeking to set baseline guides for the control of Legionella associated with building water systems, ASHRAE is looking for help in its development.

ASHRAE is pursuing public comment on Guideline 12-2000, Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, which is now open for a 45-day public review until September 11.

Developed by the ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) 188, ASHRAE Guideline 12 is intended for use by building owners of human-occupied buildings and those involved in the design, construction, installation, commissioning, management, operation, maintenance and service of centralized building water systems and components.

The guideline will provide useful information and guidance for FMs to assist in the control of Legionellosis originating in building water systems. It also gives users direction in implementing ASHRAE Standard 188: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems.

“Public input is a vital step in the development of ASHRAE guidelines. Our goal with Guideline 12 is to have a strong companion document that works in tandem with ASHRAE Standard 188,” says Michael Patton, Member of ASHRAE SSPC 188. “We invite all interested and affected parties to review and comment on Guideline 12 during its public review period. Doing so will help ASHRAE and SSPC 188 create better resources that help building owners minimize the risk of Legionellosis.”

ASHRAE Guideline 12 is a continuous maintenance guideline with updated versions planned for publication every three years. To make a comment or learn more, visit ASHRAE’s Public Review Draft Standards / Online Comment Database. To learn more about ASHRAE Standard 188, visit the ASHRAE Bookstore.