ASHRAE is seeking public comment on Guideline 12-2000, Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems, which is now open for a 45-day public review until Sept. 11. Those interested in reviewing and commenting on the guideline can do so at www.ashrae.org/publicreviews.

Developed by the ASHRAE Standing Standard Project Committee (SSPC) 188, ASHRAE Guideline 12 is intended for use by building owners of human-occupied buildings and those involved in the design, construction, installation, commissioning, management, operation, maintenance, and service of centralized building water systems and components.

The guideline will aim to provide essential information and guidance to assist in the control of Legionellosis associated with building water systems. It also gives users direction in implementing ASHRAE Standard 188: Legionellosis: Risk Management for Building Water Systems.

“Public input is a vital step in the development of ASHRAE guidelines,” says Michael Patton, member of ASHRAE SSPC 188. “Our goal with Guideline 12 is to have a strong companion document that works in tandem with ASHRAE Standard 188. We invite all interested and affected parties to review and comment on Guideline 12 during its public review period. Doing so will help ASHRAE and SSPC 188 create better resources that help building owners minimize the risk of Legionellosis.”

The CDC estimates there are between 8,000 and 18,000 cases of Legionnaires’ disease in the United States each year — and more than 10% of these cases are fatal. Most of those cases are the result of exposure to Legionella associated with building water systems.

ASHRAE Guideline 12 is a continuous maintenance guideline with updated versions planned for publication every three years. To make a comment or learn more, visit www.ashrae.org/publicreviews, and to learn more about ASHRAE Standard 188, visit www.ashrae.org/Standard188.