Hotels and Spa's
Legionella risk in hotels and similar buildings are most commonly associated with:
- showers
- spa pools
- hot & cold water systems
- air conditioning systems
Showers
The temperature within showers is normally at ideal breading temperature for bacteria with periods of stagnation which encourage biofilm formation. The Hydrosense industrial kit makes it simple to test shower systems. By their nature showers present a high risk because the head is held in the aerosol created by the shower head. The UK Legionella Approved Code of Practice recommends that all showerheads in commercial/public buildings are removed and cleaned quarterly. While the shower head is removed, the Hydrosense sample point and cell trap filter provide a sample for testing using the Hydrosense test strip. If there is a positive result remedial action can be taken so that your hotel room is quickly available again for rent. A negative result provides evidence of due care.
Spas
Spas themselves are a special case because they present an especially high risk. Whether they are public or private the temperature regimes in the spa make them ideal breeding grounds for Legionella and therefore make it essential to control risks well and to check that those controls are working. We suggest regular use of the Hydrosense test to identify infestation of Legionella.
The UK Spa Pool Management Guidelines recommend monthly lab testing of spas. We strongly suggest that if you ever at any time have doubts concerning the control conditions then carry out a Hydrosense test.
It will provide an immediate answer on the need for corrective action allowing you to know and prove that you are providing safe services to your customers and protecting your business.
Air conditioning and cooling
Air conditioners which use wet cooling towers breed Legionella as well as spas and need to be checked regularly. See our more detailed discussion on rapid Legionella monitoring in cooling towers.
Similar buildings
Leisure and Sports centres, military bases, schools and other training institutions, like university halls of residence, have a high duty of care to clients, students, customers and staff.
Hotels, university and schools have periods when the water systems are not fully used or might even be not used at all for several weeks or months. These are good conditions for bio-film growth and Legionella breeding. Each room with a shower installation represents a risk, and even ordinary hand basins can generate an aerosol which could cause infection. We strongly recommend that these installations are cleaned and checked regularly, and especially after a slack period. Facilities which have been closed for weeks during holidays may wish to test water immediately prior to reopening. The Hydrosense test range provides a means to do this and obtain timely information.
Other risks
Fountains and water misters are in many senses like a public shower. They are showers, domestic hot / cold water systems, spa pools, cooling towers on air conditioning systems fountains especially popular in shopping malls and hotel receptions where the cool mist provides a welcome and refreshing haze. Unfortunately these are ideal conditions for spreading the Legionella bacteria, with large numbers of people exposed and it is therefore important to check that the system is clear of infection. The Hydrosense test provides useful information in 25 minutes.
Conclusion
Risks are high and monitoring regularly is an important part of controlling that risk; the risks are amplified when parts of buildings are not used or when temperatures at the point of delivery are between 20-50 deg C.
Why wait? Why take the risk?