{"id":87013,"date":"2026-01-25T10:15:03","date_gmt":"2026-01-25T09:15:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/royal-decree-487-2022-regulations-on-legionella\/"},"modified":"2024-06-12T10:15:03","modified_gmt":"2024-06-12T08:15:03","slug":"royal-decree-487-2022-regulations-on-legionella","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/royal-decree-487-2022-regulations-on-legionella\/","title":{"rendered":"Royal Decree 487\/2022 Regulations on Legionella"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Ministry of Health published modifications to Royal Decree 487\/2022<\/strong>, which establish the health requirements for the prevention and control of legionellosis (disease caused by Legionella<\/strong><\/a>).<\/p>\n

This update aims to improve existing regulations and ensure the protection of public health against this disease.<\/p>\n

In the Draft Royal Decree, 24 changes have been made in a single article. These modifications seek to improve the clarity and precision of the text, addressing key aspects for its correct implementation. <\/p>\n

In this article, we summarize the most notable changes, and if you need to delve deeper, you can consult the official source RD 487\/2022<\/strong><\/a> directly.<\/p>\n

Modification of Royal Decree 487\/2022, on Legionella regulations<\/h2>\n

On May 22, 2023, an informative note was published in the Official State Gazette (BOE) with clarifications on Royal Decree 487\/2022, which partially came into effect on 1\/2\/23.<\/p>\n

These modifications aim to strengthen measures for the prevention and control of legionellosis, ensuring the adequacy of regulations to current public health needs.<\/p>\n

Let’s look at the modifications:<\/p>\n

\n

Royal Decree 487\/2022 on Legionella<\/h2>\n

These RD modifications are for improving Legionella prevention and water conservation (due to drought):<\/p>\n

– Expansion of definitions in Art.2: broadening that of ‘holder’ and defining the expressions ‘if applicable’, ‘adequate’ and ‘sufficient’ throughout the text.<\/p>\n

– Modification of Art.5 ‘Responsibilities’: include as responsible parties the operators (tenants and\/or managers) who are not owners of the facilities.<\/p>\n

– Modification of Art.11 ‘Sampling’: water sampling should be the same for PPCL and PSL. Sample taking must be accredited before 1\/1\/2030 <\/p>\n

– Modification of Annex IV Part B ‘Sanitary Water’: not always requiring the emptying of hot water storage tanks on a quarterly basis.<\/p>\n

– Modification of Annex V Part B ‘Sampling Points’: eliminate the 2 mid-points of the installation, include the concept of wet rooms in establishments with accommodations. Iron should only be analyzed in the case of installations with metallic parts. <\/p>\n

– Modification of Annex VII Table 8 ‘Cooling Towers’: Evaluate C&D with values > to 100 CFU.<\/p>\n

– Modification of Annex IX in ‘Swimming Pools’: not requiring emptying the installation if unnecessary during C<\/p>\n

– A new additional provision is included for tanks of less than 750L to have access for inspection, emptying, and sampling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

Text: Stenco.<\/p>\n

Now let’s analyze the main changes and how they affect your business:<\/p>\n

Changes in Royal Decree 487\/2022: What must installations comply with?<\/h3>\n

The changes and improvements in relation to the previous health requirements necessary to ensure safety in installations to prevent Legionella outbreaks are:<\/p>\n

– Annex II:<\/strong> Risk assessment and management, including the development of risk management plans and the designation of a technical manager. New criteria have been established for evaluating and managing risk, which involves creating specific plans for risk management.
\nThe designation of a technical manager responsible for supervising and ensuring compliance with the new requirements is required.<\/p>\n

– Annex III:<\/strong> Conducting inspections and analysis of Legionella in water samples and performing visual and technical inspections.<\/p>\n

– Annex IV:<\/strong> New requirements for the training and qualification of workers performing tasks in the installations, including training in hygienic-sanitary maintenance of installations susceptible to Legionella proliferation.<\/p>\n

– Annex IX:<\/strong> Changes for the notification of legionellosis cases and outbreaks, including the obligation to notify the health authority within a maximum period of 24 hours from the suspicion or confirmation of the case or outbreak.<\/p>\n

– Annex V:<\/strong> New requirements for documentation and recording of activities carried out in the installations, including the preparation of a hygienic-sanitary control.<\/p>\n

What requirements must installations have to prevent Legionella?<\/h3>\n

– Ensure a minimum level of cleanliness as well as water stagnation, through good design and maintenance of installations.<\/p>\n

– Avoid conditions that favor the survival and multiplication of Legionella<\/a>, through water temperature control and disinfection<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

– Temperature control and water disinfection:<\/strong> To prevent the survival and multiplication of the bacteria, it is necessary to maintain water temperature control and apply effective disinfection processes.<\/p>\n

– Minimize aerosol emission, use masks in risky situations. Reducing the generation of aerosols is key to prevent the dispersion of Legionella in the environment<\/strong>. In case of detecting any risk, it is essential to implement corrective measures immediately to mitigate any risk. <\/p>\n

What responsibilities must the owners of the facilities comply with?<\/h3>\n

– The natural or legal persons who own the facilities subject to this royal decree are responsible for compliance.<\/p>\n

– In the event that the facility is operated by a natural or legal person other than the owner of the facility, this owner will be considered responsible for compliance.<\/strong><\/p>\n

– Additionally, Royal Decree 664\/1997, which regulates the protection of workers against risks related to exposure to biological agents during work, establishes the obligation to guarantee the safety and health of workers in the workplace.<\/p>\n

Discrepancies in the distribution of responsibilities<\/h4>\n

One of the proposed changes aims to resolve the discrepancy in the distribution of responsibilities when there is no coincidence between the owner and the operator of a facility.<\/p>\n

And it is clarified that in the case where the facility is operated by a natural or legal person different from the owner of the facility, the operating person will be responsible<\/strong> for the purposes of complying with the responsibilities and obligations of RD 487\/2022.<\/p>\n

What actions are necessary in the event of a Legionella outbreak in a facility?<\/h3>\n

In each case, the health authority assesses the actions to be taken, in order to adopt appropriate measures to eliminate the source of infection and prevent the appearance of new cases.<\/p>\n

Actions of the health authority in the face of a Legionella outbreak<\/h4>\n

In situations where cases or outbreaks of legionellosis occur, it is essential to follow the guidelines established by the health authority. The notification of cases immediately activates an exhaustive investigation to identify and, as far as possible, link the cases to a specific facility. <\/p>\n

The purpose of these studies is to establish the potential relationship between the cases and a common source of infection. This allows taking the necessary measures to eliminate the source of contagion and prevent the spread of new cases. <\/p>\n

These actions will be carried out without neglecting the possible modifications that the health authority or the technical responsible for Legionella<\/strong> may determine with prior authorization. This will depend on the specific types or locations where Legionella spp. has been detected. <\/p>\n

Legionella Proliferation Foci<\/h2>\n

In addition to mobile water tanks and cisterns, there are other environments conducive to the proliferation of Legionella, such as:<\/p>\n

Industrial humidifying plants<\/em>
\nHumectants and humidifiers<\/em>
\nOrnamental fountains<\/em>
\nUrban sprinkler irrigation systems<\/em>
\nFire protection water systems<\/em>
\nOutdoor cooling elements by aerosolization<\/em>
\nVehicle washing<\/em>
\nNebulizers<\/em><\/p>\n

Affected Facilities and Equipment<\/h2>\n

Sanitary water systems.<\/em>
\nCooling towers and evaporative condensers.<\/em>
\nEvaporative cooling equipment.<\/em>
\nIndustrial humidifying plants.<\/em>
\nHumidifiers.<\/em>
\nFire protection water systems.<\/em>
\nAir-conditioned water systems or with temperatures similar to air-conditioned ones (\u2265 24 \u00baC) and aerosolization with\/without agitation and with\/without recirculation through high-velocity jets or air injection, multi-purpose pool vessels with this type of installation, pool vessels with play devices, water play areas, mushrooms, curtains, waterfalls, among others.<\/em><\/p>\n

This list details some of the facilities and equipment that will be affected by the provisions of this royal decree. It is essential to be aware of these changes to ensure compliance with current health and safety regulations. <\/p>\n

Legionella infractions and sanctions<\/h2>\n

Articles 19<\/strong> and 20 contain the infractions and sanctions applied to Royal Decree 487\/2022, of June 21, which establishes the sanitary requirements for the prevention and control of legionellosis. They are summarized as follows: <\/p>\n

– Minor:<\/h3>\n

Irregularities without direct impact on public health or of little impact, committed through negligence.<\/strong><\/p>\n

a) Simple irregularities in observing current regulations, without direct impact on public health, in accordance with the provisions of Articles 35.a).1 of Law 14\/1986, of April 25, and 57.2.c).1 of Law 33\/2011, of October 4, respectively.<\/p>\n

b) Those committed by simple negligence, provided that the resulting health alteration or risks were of minor importance.<\/p>\n

– Serious:<\/h3>\n

Failure to correct deficiencies, omission of data, obstruction of inspection, lack of control and records, non-compliance with preventive measures and training.<\/strong><\/p>\n

a) Failure to correct observed deficiencies that have led to a prior sanction considered minor, which is regarded as a case provided for in Article 35.B).1 of Law 14\/1986, of April 25, and in 57.2.b).6 of Law 33\/2011, of October 4, respectively.<\/p>\n

b) The omission of data, non-compliance with obligations related to the notification of installations, concealment of reports, obstruction of the Administration’s inspection activity, or non-compliance with the obligation to make available to the competent authority the information contemplated in this royal decree.<\/p>\n

c) The lack of a control system, the absence of any of the elements contemplated in Article 8 or 9, the presence of serious deficiencies, or the lack of implementation.<\/p>\n

d) Non-compliance with the specific preventive measures for the installation provided for in Annexes III and IV of this royal decree.<\/p>\n

e) Non-compliance with accreditation or certification obligations.<\/p>\n

f) Non-compliance with orders issued by the health authority to carry out cleaning and disinfection actions or structural reforms.<\/p>\n

g) The treatment of installations with disinfectants not authorized by the General Directorate of Public Health.<\/p>\n

h) The performance of activities by personnel who do not have the qualifications to carry out treatments according to current legislation.<\/p>\n

i) Recurrence in committing minor infractions within the last twelve months.<\/p>\n

k) Non-compliance with staff training obligations.<\/p>\n

– Very serious:<\/h3>\n

Conscious acts that seriously harm public health, repeated non-compliance with orders, resistance to inspection, and recurrence of serious offenses.<\/strong><\/p>\n

a) Those carried out consciously and deliberately, provided that they cause serious damage to public health, in accordance with the provisions of Article 35.C).2 of Law 14\/1986, of April 25, or a very serious risk to the health of the population, as provided in Article 57.2.a).1 of Law 33\/2011, of October 4.<\/p>\n

b) Non-compliance with the order issued by the health authority for total or partial shutdown of the installation.<\/p>\n

c) Repeated non-compliance with specific requirements of the competent authorities.<\/p>\n

d) Absolute refusal to provide information or collaborate with control or inspection services.<\/p>\n

e) Resistance, coercion, threat, retaliation, contempt, or any other form of pressure exerted on the competent authorities or their representatives.<\/p>\n

g) Recurrence in committing serious offenses in the last five years.<\/p>\n

Article 20: Sanctions<\/strong><\/p>\n

Regarding sanctions and sanctioning procedures, it will be governed by the provisions of Law 39\/2015, of October 1, on the Common Administrative Procedure of Public Administrations<\/strong>, Law 40\/2015, of October 1, on the Legal Regime of the Public Sector, and in Articles 58 to 61 of Law 33\/2011, of October 4, on General Public Health.<\/p>\n

As you can see, it’s not a joke, so you must comply with the regulations on Legionella RD487\/2022. For this purpose, Gimasur<\/strong> can help you: <\/p>\n

Legionella Prevention and Control Plan (PPCL)<\/h2>\n

We are a company specializing in the creation of Legionella prevention and control plans. We have experts in the field and offer effective solutions to protect health and the environment. <\/p>\n

Our goal is to help facilities comply with the royal decree RD 487\/2022 of June 21 to ensure the safety and health of their users.<\/p>\n

Implementing a PPCL in your company is an investment in safety and peace of mind.<\/strong><\/p>\n

Call us: 622 951 855<\/strong><\/p>\n

info@gimasur.es<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The Ministry of Health published modifications to Royal Decree 487\/2022, which establish the health requirements for the prevention and control of legionellosis (disease caused by Legionella). This update aims to improve existing regulations and ensure the protection of public health against this disease. In the Draft Royal Decree, 24 changes have been made in a […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":86781,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","inline_featured_image":false,"_joinchat":[],"footnotes":""},"categories":[58],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-87013","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-legionella-en"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87013","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=87013"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/87013\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/86781"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=87013"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=87013"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/gimasur.es\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=87013"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}