ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080, Professional Qualifications Standard for Legionella Water Safety and Management Personnel, has been designated as an American National Standard by the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and is now available for purchase.

ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080 outlines the minimum qualifications needed, including knowledge and competency, to become a member of a water safety team involved in the development of a risk assessment analysis, and water management and sampling plan, for protection from Legionella and other waterborne pathogens. Its purpose is to provide a curriculum of minimum criteria, identified by industry consensus, to ensure knowledge and understanding of standards and codes, and the resources, understanding, and skills needed to conduct a facility risk assessment and implement a water safety and management program to reduce the risk of infections due to Legionella.

“As an advocate for Legionella prevention for more than 30 years, it’s reassuring and gratifying to finally have a standard that provides uniform and measurable Legionella knowledge requirements for water safety programs,” said Janet E. Stout, Ph.D., president of Special Pathogens Laboratory and member of the ASSE 12080 Working Group. “An ASSE-certified professional has been trained in the knowledge necessary to develop Legionella water management plans. Certification to the ASSE water management specialist standard means the job will be done right.”

ASSE International first developed the voluntary consensus ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI Series 12000 in 2014 to address the hazardous nature of pathogens and infectious diseases that play dangerous roles for pipe trade workers, maintenance personnel, and other construction craftspeople. The one-of-a-kind ASSE Series 12000, revised in 2018, sets minimum criteria for the training and certification of pipe trades craftspeople and employers on safer methods to assess, control, and work in environments with potentially deadly diseases and how to develop water risk management programs for buildings. The ASSE 12080 standard will be incorporated into the next revision of the Series 12000, making the entire series more comprehensive.

All candidates for ASSE 12080 Legionella Water Safety and Management Specialist Certification must successfully complete a 24-hour training course encompassing all aspects of ASSE Standard 12080, and successfully pass a 100-question written exam demonstrating core competencies in environmental testing, risk assessment, water safety and management programs, mitigation and remediation methods, construction and renovation, and case investigation.

To purchase ASSE/IAPMO/ANSI 12080, please visit the ASSE International Webstore. For questions regarding the standard, contact Terry Burger, ASSE Senior Director of Standards Development, at terry.burger@asse-plumbing.org.