How to prevent Legionella?

Thermal Cooling Tower
Jun 12, 2020

A new approach for the prevention of Legionellosis is the detection of the proliferation conditions of Legionella bacteria in equipment considered risky, such as Cooling Towers and Air Conditioning Systems.

The Cooling Towers, equipment with high energy efficiency and long useful life, are considered risk facilities for the proliferation of Legionella, due to both the difficulty of access to control it and the potential risk of infection given their characteristics.

In these facilities, if they are poorly designed, without or inadequate maintenance, Legionella finds ideal temperature conditions (20-45 ºC) and nutrients for its multiplication to infectious concentrations for humans.

Because the Cooling Towers are equipment susceptible to the risk of proliferation of the Legionella bacteria and that this disease usually follows a seasonal pattern, registering an increase in cases during the summer with the increase in temperature, the Association of Cold and Cold Companies their Technologies (AEFYT) has published in a press release six tips for a safe and efficient use of evaporative cooling.

As explained by AEFYT, the legislation designates the property as the ultimate responsible for the proper functioning and maintenance of the equipment in order, among other issues, to avoid problems related to legionella and, on the other, to ensure the optimal functioning of the equipment and its greater Energy efficiency.

5 Tips for the efficient use of Cooling Towers and prevention of Legionella

With these tips, aimed at the owners of the Cooling Towers and Evaporative Cooling equipment, the Association aims, in addition to ensuring the control of Legionella, to reinforce the commitment to this technology, which is very energy efficient and which, in addition, presents great advantages in relation to cost amortization.

1. Know and apply Royal Decree 865/2003

Correct compliance with Royal Decree 865/2003 is sufficient to ensure bacteriological control and optimal functioning. Manufacturers' maintenance recommendations take these standards as a basis, although in many cases they expand and improve them.

2. Ensure the correct operation of the equipment

Keeping the controls and periodic cleaning recommended by the manufacturers up to date. It is important to scrupulously respect their periodicity.

3. Take care of the equipment design

If your industrial equipment is twenty years old or older, perhaps it is time to think about renovating it. Currently, the design of evaporative cooling equipment includes numerous improvements aimed at eliminating the conditions that favor the multiplication of bacteria, as well as minimizing the entrainment of water aerosols in the air discharge of the equipment.

4. Monitor the installation site

Evaporative cooling equipment cannot be located in areas where people pass by to prevent the aerosol they emit from being inhaled by them. There are many doubts that the bacterium can survive several meters without the presence of the hydric medium that the microdroplets provide, so the location is vital so that they cannot be inhaled. In any case, better to prevent.

5. Ensure that the maintenance control books are up to date

Ensure that it is carried out by companies of proven reputation. In this sense, in recent years there has been an intense professionalization of the maintenance sector, as well as a greater awareness of the importance of doing a good job in this regard.

Legionella is fought in winter. The maintenance of a tower, although simple, is a task that must be carried out with the periodicity recommended by the manufacturer throughout the year.

For more information on Legionella Prevention in Cooling Towers, contact one of our expert specialists in our Contact section, we will gladly assist you.

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