LEGIONELLA DIRECTIVE

2008

INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR HOTELS

(Cancels and replaces the 2002 directive)

INTRODUCTION
Accor's international guidelines should be implemented in all countries or geographical zones
that do not have a legionella protection policy already approved by the Accor Group.

When an Accor policy has already been approved, countries should implement and maintain
such policy without modifications in which case such policy will take precedence over the
present guidelines.

Other features than those described in this document may be required by Local Codes or
Local Authorities and as such should be provided by the Owner / Developer / Contractor as
appropriate. Generally, subject to above, the most demanding between the present Accor
guidelines and local codes or authorities requirements shall be implemented.

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 CONTENTS

INTERNATIONAL GUIDELINES FOR HOTELS 1

INTRODUCTION 1
CONTENTS 2
1 APPLICATION 3
2 GENERAL INFORMATION 3
2.1 RISK 3
2.2 LEGIONELLA, PNEUMOPHILA AND LEGIONELLOSIS 3
2.3 INSTALLATIONS AT RISK 4
3 PROTECTION AGAINST LEGIONELLA RISKS 4
3.1 BASE PRINCIPLES 4
3.2 TRAINING 4
3.3 KNOWLEDGE OF THE INSTALLATIONS 5
3.4 MAINTENANCE 5
3.5 HEALTH LOG BOOK 5
3.6 OPERATION 6
3.7 ANALYSIS 6
3.8 REPORTING 6
3.9 LEGIONELLOSIS OUTBREAK 6
4 COLD WATER AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER INSTALLATIONS 6
4.1 DESIGN OF INSTALLATIONS 6
4.2 INSTRUMENTATION 7
4.3 COMMISSIONING 7
4.4 TAKING OF SAMPLES AND ANALYSES 8
4.5 SAMPLING STRATEGY 8
4.6 GUIDE VALUES FOR DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEMS 8
5 AIR-CONDITIONING COOLING TOWERS 9
5.1 PLUME 9
5.2 DESIGN 9
5.3 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING TOWERS 9
5.4 MAINTENANCE RECORD 9
5.5 ANALYSES 9
5.6 COOLING TOWER GUIDE VALUES 9
5.7 GLOSSARY 10

GLOSSARY

APPENDICES: TECHNICAL DATA SHEETS (Standard forms)

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 1 APPLICATION
This directive shall be considered as the minimum applicable to all hotels within the Accor Group,
of whatever brand and in whatever country.
This document specifies the legionella protection guidelines to be applied in Accor hotels; they may
be amended but only by qualified specialists in cooperation with the relevant Accor’s Country
Technical Directors.
Each country Technical Division should establish its own maintenance procedures.
Legionella is a bacteriological risk that can be reduced significantly by suitable protective
measures.
As contamination is always possible, it is necessary to be able to provide evidence that appropriate
protective measures have been taken.

2 GENERAL INFORMATION

2.1 RISK

The legionella risk may be sanitary (water systems) or environmental (air-conditioning cooling
towers).

The causes of contamination are multiple, as they can result from several factors that will vary in
different people, different installations and different maintenance regimes, including mainly:

- layout of the plumbing services;

- condition and nature of pipework;
- water temperature;
- frequency of use of water draw-off points;
- the way the installations are managed or maintained, etc.

2.2 LEGIONELLA, PNEUMOPHILA AND LEGIONELLOSIS

Legionella is bacteria that include several species, not all of which are pathogens.
Legionellosis is the name of the most serious form of the illness caused by certain species of
legionella.
The most pathogenic species are Legionella pneumophilia responsible for 90% of the cases of
legionellosis, 10% of which are fatal.
It is a pulmonary disease that is not contagious.
There is no proof of contamination by the ingestion of contaminated water.
Legionella proliferate rapidly in warm, stagnant water (between 25°C and 45°C).
Biofilm encourages its development.
Once established, it can survive at more than 60°C. 3/15

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2.3 INSTALLATIONS AT RISK

The main installations at risk usually are:

In all hotels:
- Shower heads and hand-held showers.

In some hotels:
- Cooling towers;
- Whirlpool, or spa baths;
- Fog generators, and decorative fountains;
- Air humidifiers.

An installation should be considered to be an installation at risk if it is capable of exposing

people to aerosols of contaminated water.

3 PROTECTION AGAINST LEGIONELLA RISKS

3.1 BASE PRINCIPLES

Protection against legionella risks lies in:
 Proper knowledge of the risk:
- Staff training
 Design of the mechanical services:
- Loops and lagging of distribution systems;
- Avoidance of dead ends on DHW distribution pipework;
- Instrumentation for controlling and monitoring.
 Suitable maintenance:
- Knowledge of the installations;
- Frequency and type of preventive maintenance;
- Implementation of a health log book.
 Running of systems and equipment:
- Daily monitoring of the circuits and installations;
- Periodical bacteriological analysis.

3.2 TRAINING

Specific legionella training should be made compulsory for all technical staff in charge of
maintenance operations, particularly regarding risks and means of protection, together with
the interpretation of analysis results.

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3.3 KNOWLEDGE OF THE INSTALLATIONS

It is essential for the characteristics of the installations to be well known, for data
(ex: temperatures) to be regularly recorded / monitored and, if necessary, a detailed survey
to be carried out to enable:
o The provision of detailed distribution diagrams of the hot and cold water systems, of the
hot water production and of any water treatments;
o The removal of possible dead ends;
o Checking that the systems are balanced;
o Materials used to be identified, etc.

3.4 MAINTENANCE

In order to limit the development of legionella, action needs to be taken at several levels:
o Ensure a hot water distribution temperature of more than 50°C;
o Avoid stagnation;
o Ensure proper circulation through the systems;
o Fight against scaling and corrosion;
o Check water temperatures;
o Eliminate deposits at bottom of storage cylinders, etc.

In the event of widespread legionella contamination in mechanical systems, no works should be

carried out before having consulted the following people:
o The Hotel General Manager
o Qualified specialists in order to define an action plan, particularly so as to decide on
quantities of products to be used and their compatibility with each other and with the
equipment.
And the Accor Technical Management of the Region or Country should be kept informed.

3.5 HEALTH LOG BOOK

A health log book should be set in place in each hotel, to enable the traceability of maintenance
operations. This document should be kept permanently up to date and should be checked
annually.
The use of a loose-leaf file is recommended.

The items which must be included in it are:

o Drawings and diagrams of the installations (domestic hot water production and
distribution and water treatments; cooling towers);
o Lists of the works carried out;
o Maintenance operations carried out (with names of the operatives, types and dates
of work);
o Monitoring of water treatment systems (consumption of products, ratio of
consumption water/products);
o Disinfection types and treatments carried out (essential);
o Results of legionella and physico-chemical analysis;
o Records of water temperatures (daily). 5/15

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3.6 OPERATION

In order to reduce stagnation of hot water in the systems, it is recommended that bedrooms are let
in rotation.
If they are not, the taps in any bedroom that have not been used for 1 week should be run until the
hot water temperature stabilises. The application of this procedure is also recommended for
service or staff areas if they are little used.

3.7 ANALYSIS

In the absence of more restrictive regulations, the domestic hot water systems should be subjected
to an annual bacteriological (legionella) analysis survey.
For air-conditioning cooling towers, unless local regulations are more restrictive, a monthly
bacteriological and physico-chemical analysis should be carried out.

3.8 REPORTING
The results of analyses should be transmitted to the Country's Technical Department, who will use
them to prepare an annual summary.

3.9 LEGIONELLOSIS OUTBREAK

In the event of an actual or suspected case of legionellosis being identified, the information should
be relayed immediately to:
 The Hotel General Manager and the Owning/Operating Company Representative
(Franchised or Managed hotels)
 The Accor Regional/Country Operation Manager (Subsidiaries and Managed hotels) or
Accor franchise contact (Franchised hotels)

4 COLD WATER AND DOMESTIC HOT WATER INSTALLATIONS

4.1 DESIGN OF INSTALLATIONS
 Domestic hot water systems should be run in a loop so that water circulates permanently (24
h/day).
 The use of heating strips to maintain temperature in DHW distribution should not be permitted.
 The systems shall be balanced efficiently so as to ensure proper circulation (ensure that this is
done during commissioning). For balancing of bedroom risers, adjustable flow-rate valves
should be used.
 In all return loops, the water speed should be at least 0.20 m/sec.
 Domestic hot water systems and distribution pipework must be lagged.
 Cold water pipework should also be lagged if it passes through rooms with large6/15

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 variations in temperature or if it is exposed to frost or temperatures greater than 30°C.
 The difference in hot water temperature between the flow and the return in the distribution
system should be less than 5°C in existing buildings or 2.5°C for new installations.
 Avoid permanent dead ends, which are zones in which there is no water circulation.
 As a general rule, sanitary fittings should be fitted with temperature restrictors (to avoid
scalding).
 The temperature at the draw-off points should be limited to 50°C maximum, (70°C in kitchens).
 The domestic hot water should be distributed at a temperature of 60°C.
 The installations should, however, be capable of withstanding a temperature of 70°C.
 The hot water pipework may be in copper, stainless steel, high-temperature PVC or PER.
 Galvanised steel should not be permitted for domestic water systems.
 Hot water tanks may be in copper or in stainless steel, otherwise they should be lined
internally with a resin coating. The hot water storage tanks should be capable of withstanding
a temperature of 80°C.
 Instrumentation on the installations should enable samples to be taken (valve on the flow and
return pipework) and measurements (thermometer) to be made.
 Hot water storage tanks should be provided with a drain valve at the lowest point, and with a
400 mm diameter access panel and a thermometer.
 A system should be provided for the possible injection of chemical treatment products.
 Cold water and hot water tanks should always be lagged.

4.2 INSTRUMENTATION
 Thermometers should be installed:
on each hot water tank
on the hot water flow header;
on each loop return (before any item of equipment such as pumps or loop reheaters);
 Draw-off valves should be installed:
on the mains water inlet;
on the outlet from the water treatment;
on the hot water flow header;
on the loop return pipework.

4.3 COMMISSIONING

Before the system is brought into service, it should be cleaned and disinfected.
The disinfection of the installations should be carried out by qualified contractor, under the control
of an independent consultant, who shall provide a certificate of disinfection, together with the
results of water potability analyses carried out by a specialist laboratory.
The commissioning procedure should be implemented:
 for new installations;
 after works;
 before the re-opening of seasonal establishments.
An independent consultant should be appointed to prepare a control report, which should be
accompanied by the measurements taken (temperatures and flow rates). 7/15

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4.4 TAKING OF SAMPLES AND ANALYSES
An annual self-monitoring bacteriological analysis survey should be carried out; in accordance with
standard ISO 11731.
Samples should be taken and analyses carried out by a specialist legionella analysis laboratory;
The samples should be taken from outlets without contact between the receiving container and the
shower head or spout and after the hot water temperature has stabilised.

4.5 SAMPLING STRATEGY

The procedures used for taking samples should allow an evaluation of the level of contamination of
the installations.
As part of the normal self-monitoring of the installations, each hotel should take a minimum of 4
samples from each hot water system:
 1 on the domestic hot water flow (on the flow pipework header);
 1 on the loop return (on the return pipework, before any item of equipment);
 2 on the points of use (near the shower head in the bedrooms) as specified by the Country's
Technical Director or relevant specialist.

The number of samples taken may need to be increased:

 For hotels with more than 150 bedrooms, by 1 sample for every 50 additional bedrooms;
 When there particular points of risk identified.

4.6 GUIDE VALUES FOR DOMESTIC HOT WATER SYSTEMS

The permissible thresholds laid down by the WHO (World Health Organisation) and by most
countries is 1000 CFU/l of Legionella pneumophila.

 Target level: < 1,000 CFU/l Legionella pneumophila

 Alarm level: > 1,000 CFU/l Legionella pneumophila

Analyse the possible causes of the results; local disinfection of the
taps and valves may sometimes be sufficient.

 Critical level: > 10,000 CFU/l Legionella pneumophila

If the value is much greater than the alarm value, specific action must
be taken in consultation with the Operations Manager and the
Technical Division of the region or country.

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 5 AIR-CONDITIONING COOLING TOWERS

The cooling towers known as wet towers shall be considered to be high risk installations, for staff,
for guests and for the neighbourhood, particularly if there are air intakes nearby.

5.1 PLUME
The plume from cooling towers is the main vector of environmental risk if it is contaminated.

5.2 DESIGN
In new buildings, as far as possible, open-system cooling towers should not be installed. If
nevertheless such towers are installed, the consulting engineer shall set out in writing the precise
risk prevention actions to be taken.
Unless there is a justifiable reason, existing towers should be programmed for replacement with
other systems that do not create legionella risk.

5.3 MAINTENANCE OF EXISTING TOWERS

Particular measures, with regular checks, should be implemented for carrying out maintenance
operations on cooling towers or close to them.
The staff carrying out the maintenance operations should be trained in the identification of
legionella risk and in the prevention and protection measures.
Suitable signage should be installed and personal protection equipment be made available.

5.4 MAINTENANCE RECORD

A specific maintenance log book should put in place and kept updated for each tower. This record
should contain the maintenance operations programmed and carried out, together with the
monitoring of the consumption of water treatments.

5.5 ANALYSES
A bacteriological (legionella) and a physico-chemical (at least pH and conductivity) analysis shall
be carried out on a monthly basis.
The frequency of the controls should be specified by the country Technical Division.

5.6 COOLING TOWER GUIDE VALUES

For cooling towers, the guide values depends only on the Legionella species.
 Target level: < 1,000 CFU/l Legionella species

 Alarm level: > 1,000 CFU/l Legionella species

Implement rapidly all necessary measures to lower legionella
concentration

 Critical level: > 100,000 CFU/l Legionella species

Turn off the installation, drain it down, descale it and disinfect it before
returning it to service.
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 5.7 GLOSSARY

Aerosol Air containing fine particles in suspension. These particles, in the form of
micro-droplets, can become contaminated by legionella.

Dead end Section of pipework in which water does not circulate permanently; a
distinction is to be made between:
- a permanent dead end (formed in the construction of the system);
- a non-permanent dead end, linked to the irregular use of the system
(taps, for example).

Biofilm Organic and/or mineral material that is deposited on face of the internal
pipework.

Legionella Bacterium that form part of the aquatic flora.

Not all legionella are pathogens.

Legionellosis Generic name of the most serious form of the diseases caused by legionella.

Pathogenic Producing physical disease

L. pneumophila The most pathogenic species of legionella, responsible for more than 90% of
recorded deaths.

CFU/l Colony Forming Units per litre.

This is the unit of measurement used for bacteriological analyses by culture.

Plume Air saturated with water that forms a cloud at the outlet of cooling towers.

PCR Polymerase Chain Reaction.

This is a method of analysis based on DNA.

Cooling tower Item of equipment used in the air-conditioning installations in some hotels.
They present environmental risks,.

GU/l Genomic Units per litre.

This is the unit of measurement used for PCR analyses.

Species Term used in analysis reports to describe all the species of legionella.

DHW Domestic Hot Water.

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 Technical data sheet

Protection against LEGIONELLA risk

SHEET A

CHECK LIST FOR ACTION BY THE HOTEL GENERAL MANAGER

It is recommanded that hotel General Managers identify on this sheet the names of those responsible for each action
Corporate/regional
Action hotel
Technical Team
BASIC ACTIONS
Create or fill in the hotel health log book keep it up-to-date
As necessary Have diagrams of the installations and a survey prepared
Programme the training of technical staff
Provide individual protective items of equipment
Install safety signage in zones at risk
Check maintenance (See Sheet C)
Recommendation Organise rotation in letting bedrooms or suites

PERIODICAL ANALYSES
Plan self-checking analysis
Order analyses from a qualified specialist laboratory
Determine where samples shall be taken and programme the work
Attend the taking of samples and ensure compliance with the procedures
Incorporate the analysis reports into the health log book
Analyse the results, submit them to the regional technical division Informed

COOLING TOWERS
Apply the special measures for these high risk systems

IN THE EVENT OF UNFAVOURABLE OR CRITICAL RESULTS

Take all necessary measures & seek advice from Corporate/Regional
Advice
Technical Team or qualified specialist
Implement intensive maintenance procedures Advice
Possible critical action: temporary closure of the hotel Advice
Specify a curative treatment with assistance from a duly-qualified person Assistance
Check-analyses results after treatment Informed

If applicable
Repeat the analyses to clear doubtful cases Informed
Programme of works to rectify anomalies in the installation Assistance

Issued by Accor DGTH: Engineering Division Edition 29/4/09

Version Version 2-3

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 Technical data sheet

Protection against the risk of LEGIONELLA sheet B

STRATEGY FOR TAKING SAMPLES UNDER SELF-MONITORING
Unless there are more stringent local regulations, the following should apply for DHW systems:
PROGRAMMING
- 1 analysis campain per year
- 4 separate samples for analysis per survey, up to 150 bedrooms
- 1 additional sample for every 50 additional bedrooms.

If there is a wet cooling tower:

- Take at least one sample per month.

The method of taking samplesshouldbe such as to give overallindicationabout a possible
proliferation of legionella in the installations
COLLECTION OF SAMPLES

During regular self-monitoring of DHW installations, samples should be taken from:

- Draw-off points in bathrooms (showers)
- Flow and return on the DHW loop

Samplesshouldbe takenwhenthehotwatertemperaturehasstabilisedandmakingsure thereis

no contact between the receiving container and the outlet (shower head or spout)

The 4 self-monitoring samples should be takenthe domestic hot water:

from
BASIC SAMPLES
- 1 sample on the DHW flow
- 1 sample on the loop return, prior to any loop reheater
- 2 samples from draw-off points
From the shower head in representative bedrooms

- One bedroom occupied on previous nights and located in a mid-position in the system
- One rarely-occupied bedroom located near to the end of the system

Additional samples in hotels > 150 bedrooms

OTHER SAMPLES - Apply the same logic:
- Choose representative bedrooms, connected to different risers in the system

Additional samples from particular points

These samples will be necessary under the following circumstances:
- There are one or more non-looped sections in the system longer than 10 m
- There are installations that are rarely used
(examples: unused staff bedrooms, rarely-used pool toilets)

In such 2 cases take 1 or 2 samples from significant showers.

The samplesshall be taken from the bedroomsfollowingthe same logic, but from different
FOLLOWING YEAR bedrooms from the previous year.

The other samples shall be taken from the same points as the previous year.

Analyseswill haveto be repeatedin theeventof unfavourableor doubtfulresults,eitherto identify

possiblecausesof the proliferationof legionella,or to check the effectivenessof a curative
REPETITION OF ANALYSIS
treatment.

Guidelinescannotbe laid downfor theseadditionalanalysesas theywill dependon the results,

divergences between the different sampling points and the characteristics of the installations.

An actionplan shouldthereforebe drawnup for each individualcase, in consultationwith the

TechnicalDivisionof thecountryor regionandtheanalysislaboratory,andcallingon a specialistif
necessary.
Issued byAccor DGTH: Engineering Division Edition 29/4/09
Version Version 2-3
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 Technical data sheet
Protection against the risk of LEGIONELLA
SHEET C
MAINTENANCE CHECK LIST
REGULAR MAINTENANCE
All the actions listed shall be recorded on the control sheets of the health log book

eek

week

ly
thly

year

ly
eaw
Daily
Action

Year
a

Mon

Half-
Once
Twic
Inspection and cleaning of the hot water tanks X
Renewal of the lining if it is damaged
Note water temperature in DHW tanks & on loop return
Note water temperatures in heat exchanger (primary & secondary)
Degassing and flushing hot water tanks X
Note physico-chemical quality of water X
Cleaning of aerators and/orflow regulators on taps and of shower heads X
Checking effective operation of hot water circulation pumps X
Bleeding tops of risers and opening bleed valves X
Run water from the taps on dead ends X
Run water from the taps in unoccupied rooms X
Switchover circulation pumps X
Cleaning of air handling units X
Monthly check of cooling towers (during their periods of use) X
Cleaning of cooling towers X
… or, if they run throughout the year X
Checking operation of water softener & other water treatment systems X
… Measurement of TH X
… Recording consumption of salt and other treatment products X
… Refilling consumable products
… Manual regeneration X
… Cleaning of salt storage tank X
… Cleaning of treatment product storage tanks X
… Recording water consumption X

INTENSIVE MAINTENANCE
Intensive maintenance should apply when the legionella analysis give unfavourable results. They should
consist, essentially, in bringing forward the dates of normal maintenance operations and in increasing
their frequency. These operations should be targeted on the critical points that have been identified.
Issued by Accor DGTH: Engineering Division Edition 29/4/09
Version version 2-3 13/15
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Hotel Month year Control sheet

Maintenance manager: SHEET D

MONTHLY TEMPERATURE RECORD

Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank Tank Flow Return
Date Time Initials
Nb. 1 Nb. 2 Nb. 3 Nb. 4 Nb. 5 Nb. 6 Nb. 7 Nb. 8 loop loop
1

8
DHW STORAGE AND RECYCLING TANK TEMPERATURES

10

11

12

13

14

15

16

17

18

19

20

21

22

23

24

25

26

27

28

29

30

31

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 Hotel: Year Control sheet
Maintenance Manager: SHEET E
CHECKING OF WATER SOFTENER CHLORING OR OTHER TREATMENT SYSTEMS
Brand / Installation Year: Softener Other 1 Other 2

TH measurement Consumption Ratio Consumption Ratio Consumption Ratio

Treatment Treatmt
ek

Comments Initials
We

Outlet Mixture SALT WATER Consumption Chlore Chlore / Product product /

(0°TH) (10°TH) (in kg) (in m3) Salt/Water (in l) water (in l) water
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
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