LEGIONELLOSIS

Prevention and control law

Reference source: BOE – Boletín Oficial del Estado

On January 1, RD 477/2022 for the prevention and control of legionellosis will apply. This standard is intended for the modification of water facilities to adapt them to the new requirements. It gives a period of two years to adapt, but given the complexity of these, the necessary actions can be expected to begin.

In summary, the affected facilities are:

Sanitary hot water.
Cooling towers and evaporative condensers.
Heated water systems and similar such as saunas, spas, jacuzzi….
Spray evaporative cooling devices.

In addition to the changes in analytical control systems, periodicity, cleaning and disinfection, some elements are promoted to which the distribution must respond by making the necessary elements and materials available, among which we will point at the following:

Thermal use systems with accumulation of drinking water
Heating systems without accumulation with or without return
The materials used must be able to come into contact with water for human consumption.
Filtration systems and, where appropriate, water hardness treatment equipment such as softeners or scale inhibitors
Low aerosolization diffusers at terminal points
Thermal insulated pipes
In cold water, the deposits must have internal water temperature measurement systems, automatic disinfectant dispenser and purge valves.
In the DHW facilities, the manholes of the water accumulation elements of 750 liters or more must be accessible with a minimum diameter of 400mm, check valves, microbiological filters, etc.