Articles on Legionella and Water Management Plans
ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Standard 12080: Professional Qualifications Standard for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel
ASSE International should be commended for its leadership in establishing the first-ever certification program in the United States for people involved in managing the risk of Legionella associated with building water systems. I had the pleasure of talking online...
Flushing a COVID-Closed Building Will Not Solve Its Legionella Problem
Is your inbox packed with warnings about flushing COVID-closed buildings before reopening? The warnings have been issued because buildings shut down or occupied less than normal become more prone to Legionella and other pathogens due to stagnation. But the warnings...
Four Key Warnings About COVID-19 and Building Water Systems
The new government, scientific, and industry publications on COVID-19 and building water systems (see “Further Reading” below)—hundreds of pages counting the papers referenced in them—boil down to four key warnings: 1. Prevent viruses, gases, and other airborne...
Auditing ASHRAE 188 Water Management Programs (WMPs): 5 Secrets and 11 Metrics for Success
If local and state authorities in the United States "require water management plans in all public buildings including hotels, businesses, schools, apartments, and government buildings" – as recommended in the 300-page report issued by the National Academies of...
Could ASHRAE 514 Increase Legionnaires’ Disease?
What do you think is the primary reason Legionnaires' disease has not decreased since the outbreak in Philadelphia — 43 years ago this week — that led to its discovery? A. Agreement on a strategy for preventing Legionnaires' disease has not been reached. B....
Why State Officials Hold the Keys to Preventing Legionnaires’ Disease
Why State Officials Hold the Keys to Preventing Legionnaires' Disease And ASHRAE 188 is the Best Standard for Regulations by Matt Freije | May 3, 2018 Eight lessons learned from ASHRAE Standard 188, New York City cooling tower regulations, and the Centers for...
The Role of HPC in Water Management Programs
Updated on 6/24/19, 8/14/21, and 8/18/22 Heterotrophs are as micro-organisms that require organic carbon for growth (WHO 2017). Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC) -- aka "standard plate count," "total bacterial count," and several other terms -- are bacteria colony...
Inspecting Hospitals and Nursing Homes for the CMS Legionella Requirement: 11-Point Checklist
Updated on 6/24/19 To avoid a citation and receive Medicare or Medicaid reimbursements, hospitals and long-term care facilities must “demonstrate measures” that show compliance with the June 2017 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) “requirement to...
Complying with CMS, ASHRAE 188, and New York Legionella Requirements: 7 Keys to Real Success
Updated on 6/24/19 To avoid a citation for non-compliance with the June 2 Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) “requirement to reduce Legionella risk in healthcare facility water systems to prevent cases and outbreaks of Legionnaires’ disease (LD),"...
Following ASHRAE 188 with Limited Time, Money, and Personnel: Pressure for Building Operators and Health Officials
Let’s be honest. Most people who work in facilities management, infection control, property management, safety, industrial hygiene, or engineering want to protect the people in their buildings from Legionella and other waterborne pathogens—not just in hospitals, but...
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