On June 26, 2015, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) passed ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2015, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems which includes a dedicated section to requirements for health care facilities (NORMATIVE ANNEX A). This Standard requires facilities to develop a Water Management Program (WMP) to minimize the risk associated with Legionella bacteria in building water systems.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), keeping Legionella out of buildings’ water supplies and cooling towers, as well as pools, hot tubs, and fountains, is key to preventing infection. ASHRAE Standard 188 is intended to help owners and managers of “human occupied” buildings accomplish this prevention by establishing minimum risk management requirements for building water systems.
Owners of buildings that have any of the following:
• Multiple housing units with a centralized hot water systems
• Buildings greater than ten stories
• Housing designated for people over the age of 65
• Patients staying longer than 24 hours in a healthcare setting
• An area housing or treating immunocompromised individuals
• Cooling Towers, Whirlpools/Spas, or Aerosolizing devices such as ornamental fountains, misters or humidifiers
Figure 1. Selected notifiable disease reports, United States, comparison of provisional 4-week totals March14,2015, with historical data
*Ratio of current 4-week total to mean of 15 4-week totals (from previous comparable, and subsequent 4-week periods for the past 5 years.) The point where the hatched area begins is based on the mean and two standard deviations of these 4-week totals.
With an estimated 25,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States each year, causing more than 4,000 fatalities*, facility managers need assurance that they are compliant with all regulations with regard to water hygiene risks. As illustrated by the chart in Figure I. Legionellosis cases stand out among reportable diseases according to the CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention), and have increased beyond historical limits.
* Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Technical Manual
Barclay Water Management has a team of Certified Legionella Experts (CLE), approved by the National Science Foundation (NSF) for Hazard Analysis & Critical Control Points (HACCP) in building water systems. Our independently certified professionals will consult with you to develop a customized Water Management Program 2908 tailored to your facility’s needs. Our experienced team will work with you to create and implement a custom designed, site-specific course of documented action for your facility that meets the requirements of ASHRAE 188 Standard. Your Program will include the following components:
- Document and describe the systems currently in place
- Undertake a hazard assessment and identify control points
- Assess the existing systems
- Define monitoring of control measures
- Identify control measures and specify control limits
- Establish monitoring procedures which confirm the plan is working effectively
- Develop supporting programs, including training and recommended improvements
- Prepare procedures for corrective actions
- Establish documentation and communication procedures
