5 Ways Technology Improves Legionella Risk Mitigation
Those in facilities management are all too well aware of the obligations and the need to take action to mitigate the risks of Legionella within commercial buildings and water systems. With a recent Legionnaires' outbreak in New Hampshire tied to a cooling tower behind a popular summer resort top of of mind, it’s critical for facilities managers to ensure stringent water safety conditions to avoid the formation of this dangerous bacteria.
What is Legionnaires' disease?
Legionnaires' disease is a severe form of pneumonia caused by the Legionella bacteria. Legionella bacteria is commonly found in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs. However, it can also proliferate in human-made water systems such as hot and cold water systems, cooling towers, and air conditioning.
Legionella bacteria thrive in warm water environments (between 20°C/68°F to 45°C /113°F) and can multiply rapidly under certain conditions, especially when water is stagnant in water systems. Legionnaires' disease is not transmitted from person to person, but rather through the inhalation of contaminated water droplets in the air, which means it can be rapidly transmitted via water outlets commonly found in hotel resorts and commercial or public buildings such as hot tubs, spas, restrooms taps and faucets, showers, cooling towers, misters, decorative fountains, and air conditioning units.
For more information on Legionnaires’ disease, check out this useful overview from the US Center for Disease Control or this recently published overview from The Washington Post.
Legionnaires’ back in the headlines
Legionnaires’ has unfortunately once again recently hit the headlines, with 5 people impacted as a result of an outbreak believed to be linked to a hotel cooling tower in Lincoln, New Hampshire. Other recent high profile Legionella outbreaks are a stark reminder of the ongoing risks to public health, such as an outbreak at a Chicago hotel spa in 2012, a recent incidence at an elderly care facility in Mansfield, UK, a public health incident in Milan, Italy, and a very high profile case at the controversial Bibby Stockholm temporary asylum seeker accommodation in the UK.
These cases highlight the risks and overarching need for mitigation plans and preventative processes within commercial real estate facilities and water management systems.
What are the guidelines on prevention?
Prevention of the growth and spread of Legionella bacteria involves proper management and maintenance of water systems. Across the UK, guidance on how to mitigate and safeguard is outlined in the UK via L8 compliance, which refers to adherence to the Health and Safety Executive's (HSE) Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) and guidance document. This document provides guidance on the control of Legionella bacteria in water systems to prevent outbreaks of Legionnaires' disease. Across the US, guidance is issued at the state level, via CDC guidelines and the ASHRAE 188-202 standard.
One of many mitigation tactics involves regular monitoring of water temperatures and water movement events within pipework and water outlets. Ensuring records are kept that water is remaining within safe limits and that flushing of pipes is carried out to prevent stagnation.
How can technology help drive Legionella prevention?
The facilities management industry has long approached Legionnella mitigation through risk assessment programs that frequently include a combination of education and training, as well as ongoing management processes such as manual site checks, testing, logs, and broad periodic water pipe flushing. These may run alongside a broader program of water safety measures such as water softeners, water treatment and disinfection, and regular maintenance of the equipment and systems used in water cooling and heating.
Increasingly, technology solutions are helping improve essential Legionella mitigation processes – such as Infogrid’s Remote Pipe Monitoring solution. Advanced technology can enable facilities managers to transform their approach to Legionella mitigation and reduce risks, costs, and manual time spent while ensuring health and safety for building occupants.
How Does Infogrid’s approach work?
Infogrid’s solution utilises discreet IoT sensors that can be easily attached to hot and cold pipes and thermal mixing valves. These sensors capture water temperature and movement data 24/7 at the source and across multiple outlets within a single building or a portfolio of buildings. The data is then fed into a centralised platform, making historical logs and reporting more efficient and accessible. Additionally, customisable alerts can notify teams via SMS or email when water temperatures fall outside desired ranges or when no water movement is detected through a pipe, proactively flagging at-risk sites that may require further investigation. The installation of the Infogrid Remote Pipe Monitoring solution is straightforward and can be completed in an afternoon, with the crucial advantage of being retrofitted with minimal disruption to existing pipework.
5 ways Remote Pipe Monitoring enables improved Legionella mitigation strategies:
Move from Point-in-Time to Real-Time Monitoring
By continuously capturing water temperature and movement data across hot and cold pipes and outlets, facilities managers and engineers can build data sets at 15-minute intervals. This approach provides far more robust and complete data than monthly or weekly manual checks, without incurring the additional labour costs associated with increased manual check frequency.Build Historic Cross-Outlet Data Sets
By capturing and centralising water temperature and movement data in a single platform, customers can view data across extended periods and on building floor plans. This makes it easier to visualise and utilise data for risk mitigation across sites and multiple outlets, saving time spent on reviewing manual logs and promoting a data-driven approach.Prevent Human Error
Onsite manual water temperature checks and flushing are often conducted by teams who take manual readings and run water outlets. Supporting these processes with digital data captured at the source can prevent human error in data input and serve as a valuable complement to human-based checks.Guide Your Program of Site Visits
Most Legionella prevention programs include scheduled manual site visits by qualified engineers. Infogrid’s Remote Pipe Monitoring solution can assist these teams in targeting corrective action by providing data and reports that identify at-risk outlets, and also delivering historical data that can better inform remediation efforts.Increase Peace of Mind with Alerts
A challenge with sole reliance on site visits and manual checks is that these are inherently periodic. Infogrid’s Remote Pipe Monitoring solution allows customers to create customizable SMS and email alerts to inform on-ground teams of instances where water temperature has gone outside the desired range or where water movement has not been detected. These alerts can help identify issues before they escalate, ensuring that teams are informed in a timely manner between manual checks when concerns arise.
Final thoughts
As the risks of Legionella outbreaks continue to make headlines, the importance of robust and proactive water management strategies has never been more apparent. Facilities managers must navigate a complex landscape of regulations and safety protocols to mitigate these risks effectively. The integration of advanced technology, like Infogrid’s Remote Pipe Monitoring solution, offers a transformative approach to Legionella risk mitigation. By providing real-time data, reducing the potential for human error, and enhancing overall efficiency, these solutions empower teams to act swiftly and decisively. In an environment where health and safety are paramount, leveraging technology not only ensures compliance but also provides peace of mind, safeguarding both public health and the reputation of commercial facilities.
Ready to take your water safety program to the next level? Get in touch with our team here to learn more about Infogrid Remote Pipe Monitoring.