EMSL Provides Comments on the ASHRAE Proposed Standard for Controlling Legionella

The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) released the second draft of their proposed standard for controlling Legionella in building water systems. EMSL Analytical Inc. has offered comments to this document.

“This is a well developed standard that provides simple, cost effective solutions to reduce the impact of bacteria in uncontrolled building water systems. Understandably it required a lot of compromise from the stakeholders this far but there is a significant piece missing” commented Diane Miskowski, MPH, Business Development Manager. "While testing for Heterotrophic Plate Count (HPC)and E.coli are included in the document, testing for Legionella is not. The standard recommends the development of a Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point Plan (HACCP) for controlling Legionella. Validating the effectiveness of the HACCP plan should include testing for Legionella plus testing for HPC and E. coli as part of an overall operational check. HPC and E. coli are not a suitable replacement tests for Legionella testing. Research has proved that HPC and E.coli testing does not show a correlation to the presence or absence of Legionella in potable and non-potable water systems” she explains.

The draft is now open for public review and comment at https://osr.ashrae.org/default.aspx. The comment period ends on July 25, 2011 at midnight.

EMSL Analytical, Inc. has been offering scientifically defensible laboratory services since 1981. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider of environmental, food, consumer products, and pharmaceutical testing services and products to industry and the general public. The company has an extensive list of accreditations from leading lab accrediting organizations as well as state and federal regulatory agencies. For more information on Legionella go to www.legionellatesting.com or call 800-220-3675 x 2528.

Contact Information

Diane Miskowski, MPH

Business Development Manager

EMSL Analytical Inc.

Contact via E-mail