The ASHRAE 188 legionella standard, in my opinion, is not the last word on legionella control guidelines. Other guideline sources are; the American Industrial Hygiene Association (AIHA), the Association of Water Technologies (AWT), the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
As a biosafety trainer for over 40-years, I emphasize guidelines over regulations. Regulations often do not produce the intended results, are costly, and often inhibit development of new procedures and technologies. As an active member of NSF International’s Standard 49 Biosafety Cabinetry task group, I am also concerned that the public perception of the word “Standard” is that it is a regulation, when it is not.