Nine years in the making, the United States has its first standard to manage risk for Legionella. The ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, approved June 26, 2105, establishes minimum legionellosis risk management requirements for building water systems
The standard applies to owners and managers of human-occupied buildings d those responsible for design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and service of centralized building water systems and components.
According to the news release from ASHRAE, “The industry interest and input into developing this standard has been tremendous,” said Tom Watson, chair of the committee. “With 8,000 to 10,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease reported each year in the United States, and with more than 10 percent of those cases fatal, it is vital that we set requirements to manage risk of this bacteria.”
Specific requirements include:
• Minimum Legionellosis risk management requirements for buildings and potable and non-potable water systems.
• Establishing a program team and water management program
• Specific and detailed requirements what control strategies must accomplish and documented
While the standard provides information on what to do, there are no specific directions for implementing risk managment strategies.
To assist you in controlling Legionella, Special Pathogens Laboratory will be offering education and services that include compliance with the ASHRAE 188 standard. For more information, please contact us.