SUSTAINABLE BUILDINGS
Asset Classes
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Offices
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Enclosed Shopping Centres
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Open Air Retail
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Light Industrial
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Multi-Unit Residential Buildings
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Health Care Facilities
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Universal
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Focus Area
Topic
Water Hazards
Question #
W5.2 – Legionella Bacteria Control Management
Question
Is a Legionella Bacteria Control Management Program in place at the building?
Applicability
All asset classes
Owner/landlord occupied building
Tenant occupied building
Answer & Scoring
- Yes = 5 points
- No = 0 points
Max of 5 points
Requirements
- Develop a building-specific Legionella Bacteria Control Management compliant with ASHRAE 188 “Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems” and Public Works and Government Services Canada’s “Control of Legionella in Mechanical Systems”
- The program must cover the following:
- Responsible parties, including the building team’s training Requirements
- Analysis of building water systems and water system flow diagrams. The following systems must be considered for Legionella susceptibility, at a minimum:
- Cooling towers and evaporative condensers
- Aerosol-generating misters, atomizers, humidifiers
- Hot and cold-water systems
- Domestic hot water storage tanks
- Open-air systems (such as decorative fountains)
- Whirlpool Spas
- Building-specific water sampling protocol
- Control measures, monitoring and corrective actions
- Demonstrate that the program was developed by a person competent in Legionella mitigation measures
- Program must be signed by the building manager, dated within the past 12 months.
- If there is tenant space within the building, the owner or landlord must provide information to the Tenant Representative(s) that manage(s) water use within the tenant space on how to implement a Legionella Bacteria Control Management Program
Only having a legionella management plan for a specific system (e.g. cooling towers) is not sufficient to meet Requirements. The plan should cover all applicable water-using systems in the building.
The building’s water systems should be described in the form of a flow diagram to assist in analyzing the areas of risk and determining sampling locations. Where necessary, control measures, such as preventive maintenance, inspections and water treatment, should be implemented. These control measures must be monitored to ensure they are effective (for example, through routine sampling activities and checking temperatures of hot water once a month).
Risk analysis and monitoring of control measures must be documented and kept current. At a minimum, the program must be reviewed every 12 months to ensure risks associated with legionella susceptible systems are mitigated.
Water treatment in HVAC equipment must always meet local provincial and/or federal guidelines and regulations.
Documentation
- Building-Specific Legionella Bacteria Control Management Program
- Evidence that Program was shared with Tenant Representative(s)
Suggested Lead
In-house, with third-party support
Value
- Legionella is a water-borne bacteria that can cause legionnaire’s disease in humans
- Managing legionella bacteria at a building is crucial for maintaining a safe and healthy environment for building occupants. Creating a Legionella Bacteria Control Management Program at the building ensures that proper legionella management procedures are followed
- Test all water-consuming equipment that contains water that will interact with occupants regularly for legionella
- Implement preventive procedures to prevent legionella favoring conditions in water systems with the highest risk of legionella growth
Description
Legionella risk management is important to provide a safe environment for employees and visitors to your facility and in preventing the bacteria that causes Legionnaires’ disease.
References
Adapted BB 3.0 Question
Question 05.01.01 — Is a Legionella Bacteria Control Management Program in place at the building?