A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
A platform for research: civil engineering, architecture and urbanism
The blaze of publicity surrounding the recent outbreaks of legionnaires' disease has tended to confuse the central issue — just what is the risk of catching the disease from any of the services within a building? The answer must be that, on current evidence, there is a very slim risk indeed. Although bacteria responsible for the disease are known to colonise in water-using apparatus operating at a temperature between 20°C and 45°C — an environment provided in cooling towers, humidifiers, cooling coils, hot and cold water systems and drains — and although all buildings will contain at least one of these services, the number of recorded outbreaks only amounts to a handful worldwide. It does seem unlikely that a well-maintained building, housing normally healthy people, will constitute a risk — which may well explain why most outbreaks are connected with hospitals.
The blaze of publicity surrounding the recent outbreaks of legionnaires' disease has tended to confuse the central issue — just what is the risk of catching the disease from any of the services within a building? The answer must be that, on current evidence, there is a very slim risk indeed. Although bacteria responsible for the disease are known to colonise in water-using apparatus operating at a temperature between 20°C and 45°C — an environment provided in cooling towers, humidifiers, cooling coils, hot and cold water systems and drains — and although all buildings will contain at least one of these services, the number of recorded outbreaks only amounts to a handful worldwide. It does seem unlikely that a well-maintained building, housing normally healthy people, will constitute a risk — which may well explain why most outbreaks are connected with hospitals.
Legionnaires' disease
Berry, John (author)
Facilities ; 3 ; 13-14
1985-07-01
2 pages
Article (Journal)
Electronic Resource
English
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