Testing the water

Water hygiene within large buildings is of paramount importance. Bob Blincowe, strategic account manager UK healthcare at Trend Control Systems, explains how a Building Energy Management System (BEMS) can prevent the outbreak of water borne diseases by monitoring and controlling supply, storage, and distribution systems.

Legionella pneumophila bacteria are common in natural water sources such as rivers, lakes, and reservoirs, but usually in low numbers. However they can also be found in purpose-built water system infrastructures and, unless conditions are kept within certain parameters, they can thrive in cooling towers, evaporative condensers, hot and cold water systems, and spa pools, achieving optimal growth at temperatures of 25-42°C. Proliferation can be encouraged by water stagnation and sediment build-up in water systems including fittings, pipework and materials and, once the bacteria proliferate, Legionnaires’ disease becomes a distinct possibility and can cause a potentially fatal form of pneumonia.

Water systems are notoriously complex and it is vital, therefore, to control this risk by introducing and continually adhering to appropriate measures. One way of achieving better management and infection control is through the use of a BEMS, which can monitor and manage up to 84 per cent of a building’s energy consuming devices.

Continue reading Testing the water at SPECIFIER REVIEW.

source https://specifierreview.com/2019/05/08/bems-water-management/