I was onsite last week at an aged care facility speaking to the Facility Manager, where I was providing some information on Water Risk Management Plans and Legionella in general.  Let’s call him Brian for the ease of telling this story.  Brian asked me about the water in his sprinkler system as he explained that the Fire Safety company had been out last month to do the annual safety check.

I explained to him that YES! the water would pose a risk because it meets the three main criteria for Legionella risk.

1. Stagnation
2. Temperature
3. Aerosol

But what is the bigger risk?  Burning to death or contracting Legionella?  I also explained that it should ideally be a separate closed system and that if separate it shouldn’t pose a risk to the rest of the facilities water distribution system.  Generally, on the annual safety checks for the sprinkler systems, there is a Legionella check that should be done.

But what is the bigger risk?  Burning to death or contracting Legionella?

Brian from his office chair pointed to the fire sprinkler system and pointed out the tap and outlet to me and told me the fire safety company flushed the sprinkler system, what annoyed him the most is they just turned the tap on and water just shot out and covered one of the administration staff cars that was parked a few meters away in “Black S**t, that washed off eventually” in his words.

I informed Brian that wasn’t good, as that water, the chances of probability that it would contain Legionella (as that water hadn’t been changed since the last annual check) and could drift into the air-intake outlets for the air-conditioning system for the facility and pose a threat to all his clients.

I explained to Brian that to minimise the risk of Legionella from the flush of the sprinkler system, that the fire safety company should put a hose on the outlet and let it go to drain to minimise any aerosol.  Brian was thankful for the advice and made a note to ensure the fire safety company was informed of what would be required at the next annual fire safety check.

So the message of the story is when your annual safety inspection comes up your facilities sprinkler system, ask the fire safety company who is carrying out the work that are they aware of the risk of Legionella to clients and what steps are they taking to minimise that risk and if they can’t tell you, you can tell them they need to minimise the spray /aerosol and that they have to fit a hose to the outlet where they are going to flush the sprinkler system.

If you need advice on Legionella Risk management call Andrew or Jonathan on 0429 431 709 or go to our website www.compliancewaterservices.com.au and send us a message.