ASHRAE is currently seeking public comment on Guideline 12-2000, Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems. Introduced on July 28, the 45-day public review is open until September 11, 2017. Those interested in reviewing and commenting on the guideline can do so at this link: www.ashrae.org/publicreviews
Developed by the ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) 188, ASHRAE Guideline 12 is intended for use by building owners and facility management 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.
ASHRAE Guideline 12 is a continuous maintenance guideline with updated versions planned for publication every three years. The aim of the guideline is provide essential information and guidance to assist in the control of Legionellosis associated with building water systems. It also gives users direction in implementing ASHRAE Standard 188: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, which has been consistently recognized as the best resource available to help establish an effective water management program to prevent Legionella infections.
“Public input is a vital step in the development of ASHRAE guidelines,” says Michael Patton, member of ASHRAE SSPC 188. “Our goal with Guideline 12 is to have a strong companion document that works in tandem with ASHRAE Standard 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.”
The CDC estimates there are between 8,000 and 18,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States each year — and more than 10% of these cases are fatal. Most of those cases are the result of exposure to Legionella associated with building water systems.
