Written by: Hilary Nardone, Lead Environmental Group Manager
In August 2018, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) updated its Standard 188 Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems that was originally implemented in 2015. The ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2018 standardizes water management programs for facility water systems to mitigate the risk of Legionella bacteria. This updated standard supersedes ANSI/ASHRAE 188-2015.
This Standard is continuously maintained by a Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) for which the Standards Committee has established a documented program for regular publication for addenda or revisions, including procedures for timely, documented, consensus action on requests for change to any part of the Standard.
Scope:
ASHRAE Standard 188 establishes minimum legionellosis risk management requirements pertaining to:
- Building water systems including design, construction, commissioning, operation, maintenance, repair, replacement and expansion of new and existing buildings and their associated (potable and non-potable) water systems and components.
- Human-occupied commercial, institutional, multi-unit residential, and industrial buildings. This Standard does not include single-family residential buildings.
- Owners and managers of human-occupied buildings, excluding single-family residential buildings. This Standard is also intended for those involved in the design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance, and service of centralized building water systems and components.
Update Highlights:
The changes to ASHRAE Standard 188 do not implement new requirements. Instead, the revised Standard improves usability.
- Includes clarification of compliance requirements
- Comprehensive update to enforceable, code-intended language to facilitate the adoption of the standard for code and regulatory purposes
- Addition of informative annexes
Rest Assured:
All of the Water Management Programs created by Barclay Water Management, Inc.’s Environmental Group remain in compliance with the ANSI/ASHRAE Standard 188-2018!
