Standard Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)

SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
Water systems may be inspected (see Section 7) and tested (see Section 8) for legionella under three circumstances (1) in the absence of reported legionellosis (see 5.2); (2) when a single legionellosis case has been reported (see 5.3); and (3) when two or more legionellosis cases are reported in a limited time period and geographic region (see 5.4). Following are factors building owners and operators need to understand when considering testing water systems for legionella in the absence of illness (see 5.2) and for single legionellosis cases (see 5.3). Refer also to the CDC 2003 Guidelines for Preventing Health-Care Associated Pneumonia, and the CDC 2000 Guidelines for Preventing Opportunistic Infections Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients, and the WHO Legionella and the Prevention of Legionellosis. Detection of legionella in a water system is not sufficient to identify the system as a health hazard. However, failure to detect legionella does not indicate, conclusively, that the bacterium is not present (see 6.2.4) or that the water system may not pose a potential health hazard. Methods to detect legionella vary in sensitivity and specificity (see 6.2), and laboratories vary in their skill and experience in the isolation and identification of legionella. Isolation of apparently identical legionellae from clinical and environmental samples (see 6.2.1, 6.6.2.4, and Section 8) may suggest that a water system was the source of the legionella responsible for a patient's infection (see 5.3.2). However, cases of Legionnaires' disease due to different legionella serogroups or species need not necessarily have different sources of exposure because a system may be contaminated by more than one legionella. Timely inspection, testing, and treatment of possible legionella sources may reduce legal liabilities for facility owners and operators. Refer also to the APHA Public Health Law Manual.
Environmental Testing for Legionella in the Absence of Illness:  
Con...
SCOPE
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a water system may be contaminated with the bacterium known as legionella (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires' disease or Pontiac fever (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems, disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionella, and prevent health-care associated infections are beyond this guide's scope.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.

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Publication Date
31-Mar-2008
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ASTM D5952-08 - Standard Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)
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REDLINE ASTM D5952-08 - Standard Guide for the Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis (Legionnaires' Disease or Pontiac Fever)
English language
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Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superseded and replaced by a new version or withdrawn.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information
Designation: D5952 − 08
StandardGuide for the
Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the
Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis
1
(Legionnaires’ Disease or Pontiac Fever)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5952; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope D2331Practices for Preparation and Preliminary Testing of
Water-Formed Deposits
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers,
D3370Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
building owners and operators, facility managers, health and
D3856Guide for Management Systems in Laboratories
safetyprofessionals,publichealthauthorities,andothers:(1)to
Engaged in Analysis of Water
a concern that a water system may be contaminated with the
D4840Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody Procedures
bacterium known as legionella (see 6.1); and (2)tothe
E645Test Method for Efficacy of Microbicides Used in
identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires’ disease or
Pontiac fever (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit rec- Cooling Water Systems
ommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water
F444Consumer Safety Specification for Scald-Preventing
systems, disinfect potential sources of human exposure to
Devices and Systems in Bathing Areas
legionella, and prevent health-care associated infections are
F445Consumer Safety Specification for Thermal-Shock-
beyond this guide’s scope.
Preventing Devices and Systems in Showering Areas
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the 3
2.2 APHA Documents:
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
Public Health Law Manual, Third Edition
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
Wastewater, Twenty-first Edition
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for
Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, Eighteenth
specific hazard statements.
Edition
2. Referenced Documents 4
2.3 ASHRAE Documents:
2
2.1 ASTM Standards:
Codes and Standards. 2004ASHRAE Handbook—Heating,
C1080Specification for Asbestos-Cement Products Other
Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equip-
Than Fill For Cooling Towers
ment
D512Test Methods for Chloride Ion In Water
Cooling Towers. 2004 ASHRAE Handbook—Heating,
D596Guide for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equip-
D887Practices for Sampling Water-Formed Deposits
ment
D1067Test Methods for Acidity or Alkalinity of Water
Water Treatment. 2004 ASHRAE Handbook—Heating,
D1129Terminology Relating to Water
Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equip-
D1293Test Methods for pH of Water
ment
D1356Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
Atmospheres 12–2000 Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated
with Building Water Systems
62.1-2007ASHRAE Standard. Ventilation for Acceptable
Indoor Air Quality
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air
Qualityand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.05 on Indoor Air.
Current edition approved April 1, 2008. Published July 2008. Originally
approved in 1996. Last previous edition approved in 2002 as D5952-02. DOI:
3
10.1520/D5952-08. Available from the American Public Health Association, 800 I St. N.W.,
2
For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or Washington, DC 20001, USA, http://www.apha.org.
4
contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of ASTM Available from the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
Standards volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on Conditioning Engineers, Inc. (ASHRAE), 1791 Tullie Circle, NE, Atlanta, GA
the ASTM website. 30329, USA, http://www.ashrae.org.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959. United States
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5952 − 08
2.4 ASM Documents: 3.1.2 air conditioning, n—thesimultaneouscontrolofall,or
5
Manual of Clinical Microbiology, Ninth Edition at least the first three, of those factors affecting both the
6
Manual of Environmental Microbiology, Third Edition physicalandchemicalconditionsoftheatmospherewithinany
Manual of Molecular and Clinical Laboratory Immunology, structure.Thesefactorsincludetemperature,humidity,motion,
7
Seventh Edition distribution, dust, bacteria, odor, and toxic gases.
8
2.5 AWT Document:
3.1.3 biocide, n—any chemical intended for use to kill
Legionella 2003:An Upd
...

This document is not anASTM standard and is intended only to provide the user of anASTM standard an indication of what changes have been made to the previous version. Because
it may not be technically possible to adequately depict all changes accurately,ASTM recommends that users consult prior editions as appropriate. In all cases only the current version
of the standard as published by ASTM is to be considered the official document.
Designation:D5952–02
Standard Guide for Inspecting Water Systems for Legionellae
and Investigating Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis
(Legionnaires’ Disease or Pontiac
Fever)Designation:D5952–08
Standard Guide for the
Inspection of Water Systems for Legionella and the
Investigation of Possible Outbreaks of Legionellosis
1
(Legionnaires’ Disease or Pontiac Fever)
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D5952; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision.Anumber in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval.A
superscript epsilon (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope
1.1 This guide covers appropriate responses for employers, building owners and operators, facility managers, health and safety
professionals, public health authorities, and others: (1) to a concern that a water system may be contaminated with the
bacteriabacterium known as legionellae (see 6.1); and (2) to the identification of one or more cases of Legionnaires’ disease or
Pontiac fever (see 6.3-6.5). Comprehensive and explicit recommendations to limit legionella multiplication in water systems and
to systems, disinfect potential sources of human exposure to legionella, and prevent health-care associated infections are beyond
this guide’s scope.
1.2 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility
of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory
limitations prior to use. See 7.3 and 8.5 for specific hazard statements.
2. Referenced Documents
2
2.1 ASTM Standards: ASTM Standards:
C1080 Specification for Asbestos-Cement Products Other Than Fill For Cooling Towers
D512 Test Methods for Chloride Ion inIn Water
D596Practice Guide for Reporting Results of Analysis of Water
D887 Practices for Sampling Water-Formed Deposits
D1067 Test Methods for Acidity or Alkalinity of Water
D1129 Terminology Relating to Water D1192Specification for Equipment for Sampling Water and Steam in Closed Conduits
D1293 Test Methods for pH of Water
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D2331 Practices for Preparation and Preliminary Testing of Water-Formed Deposits
D3370 Practices for Sampling Water from Closed Conduits
D3856 Guide for Good Laboratory Practices in Laboratories Engaged in Sampling and Analysis of Water
D4840Guide for Sample Chain-of-Custody Procedures Guide for Sampling Chain-of-Custody Procedures
E645Test Method for Efficacy of Microbicides Used in Cooling Systems Test Method for Efficacy of Microbicides Used in
Cooling Water Systems
F444 Consumer Safety Specification for Scald-Preventing Devices and Systems in Bathing Areas
F445 Consumer Safety Specification for Thermal-Shock-Preventing Devices and Systems in Showering Areas
1
This guide is under the jurisdiction ofASTM Committee D22 on Sampling andAnalysis ofAtmospheresAir Quality and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
D22.05 on Indoor Air.
CurrenteditionapprovedNovember10,2002.April1,2008.PublishedJanuary2003.July2008.Originallyapprovedin1996.Lastpreviouseditionapprovedin19962002
as D5952-96(02).D5952-02.
2
ForreferencedASTMstandards,visittheASTMwebsite,www.astm.org,orcontactASTMCustomerServiceatservice@astm.org.For Annual Book of ASTM Standards
volume information, refer to the standard’s Document Summary page on the ASTM website.
Copyright © ASTM International, 100 Barr Harbor Drive, PO Box C700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428-2959, United States.
1

---------------------- Page: 1 ----------------------
D5952–08
3
2.2 APHA Documents:
The Public Health Law Manual, SecondThird Edition
Standard Methods for the Examination of Water and Wastewater, TwentiethTwenty-first Edition
Control of Communicable Diseases Manual, SeventeenthEighteenth Edition
4
2.3 ASHRAE Documents: Cooling Towers. Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Codes and Standards. 2004 ASHRAE Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Cooling Towers. 2004 ASHRAE Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Water Treatment. 2004 ASHRAE Handbook—Heating, Ventilating, and Air-Conditioning Systems and Equipment
Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems
12–2000 Minimizing the Risk of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems
62.1-2007 ASHR
...

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