ASHRAE and the United Nations Environment Programme have renewed their joint global effort to help reduce the amount of pollutants released into the atmosphere by buildings. One big goal of the so-called third biennial work plan is the sustainable phase-out of ozone- depleting substances in refrigerant and air conditioning systems, says the Atlanta-based ASHRAE, formerly known as the American Society of Heating, Ventilating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.

Another aim of the joint effort, created under a global cooperation agreement signed in 2007, is to create an international advisory team to assist developing countries in their efforts to institute and/or update relevant codes and standards.

On a topic related to healthy building environments, ASHRAE late last month released for public comment its proposed Standard 188P, Prevention of Legionellosis Associated with Building Water Systems. The standard would help facilities managers and owners understand how to guard against Legionella associated with building water systems.This is the third public review.

ASHRAE published a guide on the subject in 2000. Called ASHRAE Guideline 12, Minimizing the Risk of Legionelllosis Associated with Building Water Systems, the publication offers recommendations about how to treat various building water systems. The standard specifies the actual practice of exactly what must be done with all the recommendations, says ASHRAE.The two publications are considered complementary.