Dave Yates - Urgent (leo g)

leo g_13

if you have time, could you please send me some info on legionnaires. i have just discovered that B214, the hydronic code, to be instituted into our national code allows open systems.

here is a letter i just sent off to our local office of CSA International,

Dear sir/madam,

It has come to my attention, that standard B214 of the Canadian National Building Code, will allow, open heating systems utilizing domestic hot water tanks. I am wondering if you are aware, that the health hazards, posed by this design are very high? The CDC in Atlanta, estimates that up to 10,000 people a year, die of Legionaires disease alone in the USA.

I understand, that the standard states that a mechanical means of "flushing" the system every 24 hours is mandatory. Circulators and power do fail. I find it hard to understand, that the health of my and your customers would be put at risk, for the lack of a few dollars more, to install a proper heat exchanger between the potable and NON-POTABLE portions of these systems.

Being involved in the hydronic industry for more then 15 years, I would appreciate if you could direct me to where I could officially send my complaint about this part of the standard.

Sincerely yours,

Leo Galozo

NRG Hydronic Technologies

North Vancouver, B.C.

If i get a reply, i intend to take this cause further.

thanx Dave,

leo

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Dave Yates (PAH)

Unbelievable

Especially given the wealth of information available regarding Legionella and amplification - not to mention codes altready in place in Europe.

Aside from the net and its resources feel free to share the following:

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=98

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=22

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=17

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=162

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=168

http://www.contractormag.com/articles/column.cfm?columnid=193

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leo g_13

reply

first, let me say thank-you David. You have shown me the first step, and I intend to get running with this issue.

I talked to one of the reps of our RHWHA today, and even though he has the B249 standard, he had not read the part about open systems properly, for he thought that such a thing would never be part of it. He happened to have the standard with him, and boy-oh-boy was he ever surprised. Yes, open systems, at this point are allowed.

We both think, that the RHWHA meetings, may now move away from mortgage advisers and the like, and maybe get back to the business at hand, providing sane rules for hydronic heating.

By the way, I got a reply from the chap that I sent my message too, at CSA International, here it is;

Dear Mr. Galozo,

Thank you for the information. In this reply, I am sending your concern
through as a complaint, which will be brought to the attention of the
applicable Standards Committee.

Regards,

Terry Nagy

If I do not hear back from someone this week, I will send Mr. Nagy, some of the info that you kindly passed on.

The fight has just begun!

Leo G

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Mark Eatherton1

Go gettem Leo!

We're on your side!

ME

Leo G_88

Thanx

Mark, I appreciate it. Funny thing is, as I was showering last night, thinking about all that potentially deadly vapour, a thought struck. Disease? Of course, our provincial CDC. They did a wonderful job with the SARS outbreak here in Vancouver. No one died, and it was contained to 6 people I believe. The woman who is the head of the CDC here, seems to be very proactive, so I sent them this e-mail;

Dear sir/madam,

I just went through your sight, and was surprised to find nothing about LD. According to the CDC in Atlanta, up to 18,000 Americans come down with this disease a year. It has a fatality rate of 4-30%.

The bacterium that causes this disease, rapidly grows in tepid to hot water, that is stagnant and has a bio-filter. i.e. potable hot water plumbing pipes.

You are probably not aware of this, but right now, our national building code, is about to release its' latest version of said code. For the first time ever, there will be section covering the installation of hot water heating systems. Over the objections of both the BC Hot Water Heating Assoc. and the like Assoc, in Alberta, CSA Standard B-214, will permit the use of open heating systems.

These systems use a domestic hot water tank, usually gas fired, to provide potable hot water, and warm water for heating. The catch being, is that these two different systems are not seperated by means of a heat exchanger, thus called open systems. The standard does call for a timed pump, to push the standing water through the imbedded heating pipes, once every 24 hours, during the non-heating period of the year. I feel that this is a very mickey-mouse "fix" for a very potential, deadly disease.

I feel that these systems are an accident waiting to happen, and if you could take the time to do a search on the web, for better description about this disease and its' habits, I have no doubt that you too, will see where I am coming from.

After your very succesful campaign against SARS last year, I thought it would be prudent to bring this issue to your attention. I have sent my objection to CSA International, and am awaiting a reply from the comittee. I feel that if this standard is left as is, it will only be a matter of time before we start SEEING COMPLETELY PREVENTABLE CASES APPEARING.

Yours sincerly,

Leo Galozo,


I think the way to tackle this issue, may be through regional health boards, who do not have endless supplies of money, so prevention should be key, and local councils. We'll see.

Leo G

Dave Yates (PAH)

If you get a response

we will be happy to chime in to help support your position. Just give us the contact info. And - feel free to forward any of the articles if that will aid in the cause.

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