Preventing the March

How smart buildings management could tackle a potential upsurge in legionella post-Covid

As if the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic wasn't a pressing enough problem, a study published by The Lancet^[1] in April 2020, suggested that the various periods of lockdown could carry a further, unexpected repercussion: a widespread outbreak of legionnaire's disease. With offices, businesses, schools and other public spaces closed for prolonged periods, facilities managers are facing an entirely unfamiliar scenario, where disused pipework has the potential to become a breeding ground for legionella. So, how can building managers monitor and reduce the risk of legionella when lockdown ends this spring?

Legionella and smart tech

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become increasingly present throughout the business ecosystem. Employed for automation and data gathering, it has potential in almost every industry. In buildings management in particular, it has the capacity to simplify and amplify integral health and safety procedures, including legionella monitoring and prevention.

Reducing waste and changing practices

The current method of preventing legionella outbreaks - temperature control and the regular flushing of all pipework to reduce the risk of stagnation - is both time consuming and wasteful. But it has also been necessary, with National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine estimating that as many as 70,000 people suffer from Legionnaires' Disease annually^[2]. With smart tech however, the potential for change is very real.

With the use of smart sensors, full, remote monitoring allows managers to understand their buildings in previously unavailable depth. So, rather than the routine flushing of all systems, wasting gallons of water unnecessarily, managers can review the data available - taking note of automatic alerts - and take action only where it is needed.

Smart monitoring can take care of more than just water movement. Not only does it save water, but it saves on staff time and resources. Removing unnecessary travel means increased efficiency for the team and a better carbon footprint.

Temperature

One of the key factors in the development of legionella is water temperature. The bacteria multiply in temperatures between 20-45°C. It is dormant below 20°C, and dies at above 60°C. Smart monitoring provides an immutable audit trail, detailing which taps have released water at the higher temperatures, and which might need flushing. This not only allows facilities managers to take appropriate action, but to see and share historical data and demonstrate their reasons for taking action.

Stagnant water

Of course, legionella isn't just an issue for taps and boilers. Any area prone to holding standing water can become a risk. Heating and air conditioning units have been responsible for some of the UK's most recent legionella outbreaks. smart monitoring can help in this area too. With the application of mini sensors around water sources or inlets, midpoints and endpoints and in sections of process piping that become isolated (known as 'deadlegs'), whole buildings can be monitored and secured against potential infection. Reducing the time and the cost - and the waste - of existing legionella compliance procedures.

Although less common than many other health risks, legionella is a real concern for anyone responsible for the safety of a building and the people who use it. At a time when many buildings have faced a period of near-abandonment, the potential risk of legionella has intensified. Every facilities manager will have to find their own solution for tackling the threat of legionella in the coming months. For many, smart technology and the IoT will play a leading role.

Uwe Klatt, Vice President of Sales at Disruptive Technologies

Uwe has more than 15 years' experience as a senior sales executive. Having worked with some of the world's leading technology companies - Alcatel, Siemens, Juniper Networks, Logitech and Cisco Systems - he joined Disruptive Technologies in 2018.