Legionaires Disease: Some Thoughts

Legionnaires strikes again. The tabloids have the industry on the run and the general public in a panic about the safety of air conditioning systems.

"Whose cooling tower was it?" will be the most asked question. The real answer to this is: it does not really matter.

No cooling tower manufacturer sells their product with Legionella as part of the purchase.

This latest outbreak will start the push by manufacturers of air cooled and adiabatic systems that only their product is “safe”.

The reality on this side is that because these systems are no where neare as efficient as water cooled systems we use more energy, create more pollutants and we could say ultimately create the potential for harming more people than the number of LD cases recorded each year.

It is about time the industry and in the so called “voice” of the industry, AIRAH start educating the general public rather than let the tabloids run riot. I think the last article I saw AIRAH produce on related topics was no more than a sales article for Muller Industries.

Let me explain something here. It is only when there are outbreaks from HVAC systems that legionella is noteworthy. About two years ago I finally thought that the Legionella “scare tactics” employed by the tabloids to sell their product had run it’s course.

On page 22, in a one column by perhaps 30 lines, there was an article about a case of two people having contracted LD. When I saw the headline I thought “about bloody time” someone had some common sense.

The reality was as I read the article that the people had contracted LD from potting mix.

Why was this LD case relegated to page 22? Simple. Potting mix does not sell papers.

Now let’s get back to the statement I made that cooling tower manufacturers do not sell their product with LD.

So where does Legionella come from? From many sources. You will find that the general consensus about Legionella is that it is a naturally occurring bacteria, found in the soil and ground water.

This has always fascinated me. Consider if you will, a cooling tower situated on the 40-something floor or higher. Where does the soil come from? Dust particles? Surely they would be bone dry. So that leaves water bourne contamination as a possibility. So the logical source of contamination in a lot of cases must be the local water supply.

Interestingly all responsibility for control of the disease has been shifted to the HVAC industry and to building owners. Who actually should be responsible for providing “safe” water?

I’ll leave the industry with those thoughts.

Wireless fan coil unit latest HVAC innovation

In this game, especially of late, there hasn't not been much by way of innovation in HVAC. I don't want to blow my own trumpet but there is one of note at F. Muller, where I work.

I refer to the Wireless Fan Coil Unit (WFCU). Check out this site for more details.

The beauty of these units are that they are more affordable to install and cheaper to maintain.

There are a number of configurations available. And, with remote control you get a flexibility that you cannot find in hard-wired units.

These units also boast a host of features that include: die-cut aluminium ripple fins, that provide more cooling for each unit of energy input
and a unique slit-fin design that allows heat exchange from copper tubes to the air, by creating turbulent air movement flowing over the fins.

It's worth a look if you're in the market for a fan coil unit.

Please feel free to let me have your comments on this unique product.

Till my next post....

What about a board of review?

The recent F. Muller reunion and a discussion with a friend of mine made me realize that our industry could use an independent board of review.

There are many instances where manufacturers or suppliers of equipment face disputes over performance issues. Many times the manufacturer is held to account even when it is not the manufacturer's problem.

The usual leverage used is non-payment for equipment. Many contractors, who have now gone bust, used this ruse to fund their next project.

A board of review I was considering would be set up and paid for by the industry. The panel would be made up of independent experts. People like Clive Broadbent, Terry Watt, Stan Wesley etc. People with a wealth of knowledge and practical ability that could be utilized in many different situations.

What do you think?

F. Muller reunion, why not

The idea of an F Muller re-union is not a new one. On the first of December, 2006, a reunion took place at the Oatley RSL.

Organised by Stan Woods of Soler and Palau and Dennis Greacen. I was there and it was great to catch up with people like Brian Farmer, Teddy McBride, Bob Windwood, Dave Raines, Keith Coil, old Jack or should I say Sir Jack Leslie OA, Mike Leary, Matt Cosgrove, James Demitriou, Carl Sarelius, Glenn Reeves. And, the list goes one.

The wealth of industry knowledge in that room was amazing.

Doing this on a larger scale can only help promote a more contiguous industry.

So, next year (2007), we intend to get this together on a much larger scale, to help promote the industry as a whole.

Your comments are welcome and if you have contacts from F Muller, please get in touch with them and myself. You can also use our website to get in touch with us (see link).

Hope to be hearing from you.