ASHRAE recently released a standard on preventing legionellosis, commonly known as Legionnaires’ disease.

 “The industry interest and input into developing this standard has been tremendous,” said Tom Watson, chairman of the American Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air-Conditioning Engineers committee that wrote the standard. “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.”

New York City suffered an outbreak in July that sickened 127 people and was responsible for 12 deaths.

Standard No. 188, “Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems,” was written for owners and managers of buildings and those who erect, service and maintain building water systems and components.

The waterborne bacterium typically grows in poorly maintained HVAC construction ductwork, water storage tansk and rivers.

The HVAC market standard is available at this website.