ASSE 12080 flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Legionnaires' disease incubation

Legionnaires' disease is pneumonia that typically develops 2 to 14 days after exposure to contaminated water aerosol or aspirated water; illness usually begins 5 to 6 days after exposure.

Pontiac fever

Pontiac fever is a self-limited, influenza-like illness caused by Legionella exposure; it has a short incubation of about 24 to 72 hours and does not progress to pneumonia.

Legionella transmission route

Legionella is transmitted primarily by inhalation of contaminated aerosols or by aspiration of contaminated water; person-to-person transmission is not documented in outbreaks.

Legionella growth conditions

Legionella growth is favored by water temperatures of about 25 to 45 degrees Celsius, stagnation, biofilm, sediment, scale, corrosion, and presence of protozoa that harbor the bacteria.

Urinary antigen limitation

The Legionella urinary antigen test detects only L. pneumophila serogroup 1, so a negative result does not exclude infection caused by other serogroups or species.

Legionella culture gold standard

Culture on buffered charcoal yeast extract agar is the reference method for Legionella diagnosis and environmental testing; it requires several days and specialized laboratory technique.

ASHRAE Standard 188

ASHRAE Standard 188 establishes minimum risk management requirements for building water systems, including program team, system description, hazard analysis, control measures, monitoring, corrective actions, and documentation.

Water system description

A water system description documents water source, treatment, storage, distribution piping, fixtures, equipment, and flow from point of entry to point of use, usually with process flow diagrams.

Amplification condition

An amplification condition is a factor that promotes Legionella growth or spread, such as water temperature between 25 and 45 degrees Celsius, stagnation, biofilm, sediment, or inadequate disinfectant.

Dead leg

A dead leg is a pipe section with little or no flow off a main line; it creates stagnation and can harbor biofilm, making it a priority hazard in water system assessments.

Risk matrix

A risk matrix combines likelihood of hazard occurrence with severity of health outcome to assign priority; document the scoring rationale and review it when conditions change.

Sentinel fixture

A sentinel fixture is a representative outlet selected for monitoring because it is distal, infrequently used, or serves a high-risk population; it is not necessarily the worst-case location.

Cross-connection hazard

A cross-connection is a link between potable water and a nonpotable source; backflow can introduce contaminants and must be controlled by air gaps, backflow preventers, and inspection.

Water management program team

The WMP team includes owner or management authority, facility engineering, water treatment, infection prevention, clinical and laboratory representatives, and contractors; roles, backups, and communication responsibilities are documented.

Control point definition

A control point is a location or process step where a control parameter is monitored, such as a hot water return line or cooling tower basin.

Control limit definition

A control limit is the documented acceptable range for a control parameter; exceeding it requires a specified response, investigation, and corrective action under the program.

Program scope

Program scope defines the buildings, water systems, populations, water uses, and boundaries covered by the water management program; it must be updated when systems or occupancy change.

Document version control

Version control uses unique document identifiers, revision dates, approvals, and retention schedules so that current procedures are used and historical records remain retrievable.

Role-specific training

Role-specific training prepares each team member for assigned tasks, including monitoring, recordkeeping, corrective actions, and communication; training is documented before assignment and after procedure changes.

Temperature control targets

Where feasible, store hot water at or above 60 degrees Celsius, maintain hot water return at or above 49 degrees Celsius, and keep cold water below 20 degrees Celsius; manage scalding risk with mixing valves.

Intermittent flushing

Intermittent flushing increases flow through outlets and piping to reduce stagnation; flush all fixtures, including rarely used ones, according to a documented schedule and record completion.

Point-of-use filter

A point-of-use filter is installed at a fixture to retain particles and microorganisms, often with a 0.2 micrometer rating; it requires scheduled replacement and validation for the intended use.

Thermal shock

Thermal shock raises water temperature temporarily to reduce Legionella; it must be planned to control scalding and system stress, and effectiveness must be verified afterward.

Hyperchlorination

Hyperchlorination temporarily raises chlorine concentration to remediate contamination; it requires corrosion control, exposure protection, neutralization planning, and verification before returning to normal operation.

Cooling tower control

Cooling tower controls include routine biocide treatment, basin cleaning, drift eliminator maintenance, and monitoring; these reduce aerosol release and Legionella amplification in the system.

Corrective action sequence

Corrective actions follow a sequence: contain or isolate the problem, notify responsible parties, investigate root cause, implement remediation, verify effectiveness, and document the outcome.

Monitoring definition

Monitoring is the routine measurement of control parameters such as temperature, disinfectant residual, pH, flow, and biocide concentration at defined locations and frequencies.

Validation definition

Validation provides evidence that selected control measures can achieve the intended Legionella control under actual building conditions; it may use efficacy data, site testing, and engineering review.

Verification definition

Verification confirms that the water management program is implemented as written and meeting objectives through record review, audits, trend analysis, and checks of corrective actions.

Alert versus action limit

An alert limit signals a drift requiring investigation; an action limit signals a condition requiring corrective action and notification according to the water management program.

Environmental sampling limitation

Environmental Legionella sampling is supplemental unless required; results depend on method, location, and timing, so they must be interpreted with monitoring data and control status.

Plan-do-check-act

Plan-do-check-act is a continual improvement cycle: plan a change, implement it, check results against objectives, and standardize or adjust the practice.