ASHRAE has released a fourth version of what will be the standardized requirements specific to the building industry for management of the risks associated with Legionella—a bacterial disease generally linked to water systems.

Open for public review until November 10, 2014, Standard 188P, Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems, has been updated with changes such as what is required to comply.

“Building water systems vary substantially in their design and their capability for transmission of Legionella,” said Tom Watson, chair of the Standard 188P committee. “Scientific evidence is either lacking or inconclusive in certain aspects of Legionella control. The informative guidance is included to provide suggestions, recommendations and references.”

Specific changes include:

• Alignment of the document with the revised title, purpose and scope.

• Removal of hazard analysis and critical control points (HACCP) terminology; some of the principles of the HACCP process are consistent with the process utilized in the document.

• Inclusion of a normative appendix for health care facilities meeting specific requirements that provides an alternate compliance path that is more stringent than for other facilities.

• More emphasis on requirements for design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation, maintenance and service.

For a draft of the document and instructions on submitting comments visit: www.ashrae.org/publicreviews