Legionella Testing
Legionella Analysis Laboratory
Under current legislation, Royal Decree 487/2022 of 21 June, which establishes the health requirements for the prevention and control of legionellosis, as amended by Royal Decree 614/2024 of 2 July, at-risk facilities are required to have a preventive maintenance programme in place, carry out disinfection treatments, and perform Legionella analysis in accordance with ISO 11731, in order to verify that the measures applied are effective.
Which facilities require Legionella analysis?
The scope of application covers any facilities that may be liable to become sources of human exposure to the bacteria and, therefore, to spread legionellosis during operation, service testing or maintenance.
It applies to facilities in buildings, means of transport, recreational facilities, urban installations, healthcare or therapeutic facilities, and any installation that uses water in its operation and produces, or may produce, aerosols that could pose a risk to public health. These facilities include, for example, the following:
Domestic hot water storage tanks
Cooling towers and evaporative condensers
Evaporative cooling equipment
Industrial humidification plants
Humidifiers
Fire water systems
Heated water systems, or systems operating at temperatures similar to heated water systems (≥ 24 ºC), with aerosol generation, with or without agitation, and with or without recirculation through high-speed jets or air injection; multi-purpose pool basins with this type of installation; pool basins with water play devices; splash zones; spray features; water mushrooms; curtains; waterfalls; among others
Ornamental fountains with aerosol dispersion and interactive fountains
Sprinkler irrigation systems in urban environments or on golf courses and sports grounds
Evaporative cooling spray systems using aerosol-generating cooling elements
Vehicle washing systems
Watering or street-washing machinery and road-cleaning vehicles
Any element intended for cooling and/or humidification that may produce aerosols and is not included in the other categories
Healthcare / therapeutic facilities: respiratory therapy equipment; ventilators; nebulisers; pressurised water systems used in dental treatments; therapeutic baths with pressurised water; obstetric baths for childbirth; and facilities using waters officially classified as mineral-medicinal or thermal waters
FAQ of Legionella Testing
LEGIONELLA ANALYSIS IN WATER Minimum sampling frequency (according to Table 3 of Annex V of Royal Decree 487/2022):
| Legionella spp. (UFC/L) | Aerobios (UFC/ml) | pH (1) (2) | Temperatura (ºC) (2) | Turbidez (UNF) (2) | Biocida (3) | Hierro total (mg/L) (4) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Trimestral. | Trimestral. | Diario. | Diario, rotatorio. | Semanal. | Diario, en su caso, con lectura automática en continuo. | Trimestral. |
| Mensual. | Trimestral. | Diario. | Diario. | Semanal. | Diario, en su caso, con lectura automática en continuo. | Mensual. |
Detectión de Legionella spp.
The reference method for the detection of Legionella spp. is the culture method set out in UNE-EN ISO 11731:2017 Water quality. Enumeration of Legionella.
Laboratories must have the analysis method for the determination of Legionella by culture accredited in accordance with UNE-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2017, Conformity assessment. General requirements for the competence of testing and calibration laboratories, by a National Accreditation Body in accordance with Regulation (EC) No 765/2008 of the European Parliament, of 9 July, which lays down the requirements for accreditation and market surveillance relating to the marketing of products.
Do you need a Legionella testing?
Análisis de Legionella acreditado
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