Legionella control: what RD 487/2022 requires and which products to use
Spanish Royal Decree 487/2022 requires the owners of installations that generate aerosols to prevent and control legionellosis. Here you will find what the regulation sets for cooling towers and domestic water (frequencies, temperatures and sampling) and the Instaquim products for cleaning and disinfecting them.
Call us: +34 938 891 344
Which installations are covered
RD 487/2022 (amended by RD 614/2024) applies to installations that can generate aerosols with contaminated water: hot and cold water for human consumption (ACS and AFCH), cooling towers and evaporative condensers, evaporative cooling equipment, humidifiers, fire protection systems, spas and jacuzzis, ornamental fountains, sprinkler irrigation, misting systems, vehicle washing tunnels, street-washing vehicles and medical and therapeutic equipment. Buildings used exclusively as private dwellings are excluded.
The owner must have a Legionella Prevention and Control Plan (PPCL) or a Legionella Health Plan (PSL) based on a risk assessment; the UNE 100030 standard sets out this assessment. Only authorised or registered biocides may be used, and companies that carry out treatment for third parties must be registered in the ROESB (Official Register of Biocide Establishments and Services), with qualified staff and a certificate for each cleaning and disinfection.
Products for each task in the programme
Towers and condensers: disinfection
Registration no. 21-100-04598
- Bacter 200 — start 0.2–0.4% every 7 days; maintenance 0.1–0.2% weekly
Towers and circuits: descaling
Limescale and mineral deposits
- Detercal — 10–20% at 40–60 °C; rinse until pH is neutral
Water disinfection
Hypochlorite compliant with UNE-EN 901
- Clor Active 15% — sodium hypochlorite 15%, water disinfection
- Lejía Hipo 5% Instaquim — sodium hypochlorite 5%, suitable for drinking water
For limescale in heat exchangers, boilers and circuits, see the guide to industrial descalers.
Frequencies set by RD 487/2022
| Installation | Cleaning and disinfection | Legionella sampling | Other checks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cooling towers and evaporative condensers | At least twice a year (start of spring and autumn), or every 6 months if they operate all year round | Monthly | Basin and bleed-off: monthly inspection; drift eliminator and fill: every 6 months |
| Hot and cold water for human consumption (ACS and AFCH) | At least once a year, not exceeding 12 months | Quarterly | ACS: storage tank ≥ 60 °C, return and taps ≥ 50 °C; AFCH, where possible < 20 °C |
| Heated water with aerosolisation (spas, jacuzzis) | Dismantling, cleaning and disinfection every 6 months | Monthly | — |
| All installations | Also: first start-up, shutdown of more than 1 month, repairs or at the request of the authorities | 15–30 days after each cleaning and disinfection | Biocide and pH checked at least every hour during treatment |
RD 487/2022 does not set chlorine doses for disinfection: it refers to the instructions of the authorised biocide being used and to the pH of the water. Thermal disinfection of ACS is carried out at 70 °C for 2 hours in the storage tank and at 60 °C for at least 5 minutes at each outlet.
Who this range is for
Hotels, care homes and gyms
Domestic hot water with quarterly sampling and spas with monthly inspection. See care homes.
Industry with cooling towers
Cooling towers and evaporative condensers: Bacter 200 for disinfection and Detercal for limescale.
Vehicle washing tunnels
Expressly included in RD 487/2022. See vehicle cleaning.
Treatment companies (ROESB)
Product at factory price for registered companies that carry out treatment for third parties.
Frequently asked questions about Legionella control
Which installations must control Legionella?
Those that generate aerosols: domestic hot and cold water, cooling towers, evaporative condensers, humidifiers, spas and jacuzzis, ornamental fountains, sprinkler irrigation, misting systems, vehicle washing tunnels and medical equipment, among others (Annex I of RD 487/2022).
How often must a cooling tower be cleaned and disinfected?
At least twice a year, preferably at the start of spring and autumn, or every 6 months if it operates all year round. Also at first start-up, after a shutdown of more than a month or after a repair. Legionella sampling is monthly.
What temperatures does RD 487/2022 require for domestic hot water?
At least 60 °C in the storage tank and at least 50 °C in the return and at the taps. Cold water, below 20 °C where possible. Thermal disinfection is carried out at 70 °C for 2 hours in the storage tank and at 60 °C for at least 5 minutes at each outlet.
Which disinfectant is used in cooling towers?
Bacter 200, a biocide for Legionella treatment in cooling towers and evaporative condensers, with registration number 21-100-04598. It meets the UNE-EN 13623 test against Legionella pneumophila for 60 minutes at 30 °C. Its data sheet indicates 0.2–0.4% every 7 days at the start of treatment and 0.1–0.2% weekly for maintenance, applied by specialised professional staff.
Who can carry out the treatment?
The owner of the installation or an external company. If the treatment is carried out by a company for third parties, it must be registered in the ROESB, with a trained technical manager and suitably qualified staff, and must issue a certificate for each cleaning and disinfection.
What chlorine dose should be used for shock disinfection?
RD 487/2022 does not set a chlorine dose: follow the instructions of the authorised biocide and check the biocide and pH at least every hour. The doses still in circulation (20–50 mg/l) came from RD 865/2003, repealed since January 2023.
Do you supply maintenance and water treatment companies?
Yes. We have been manufacturing at our plant in Vic since 1990 and supply treatment companies, maintenance companies and distributors. See the distribution programme.
Do you manage installations with a Legionella risk?
Tell us which installations you treat (towers, condensers, domestic water, spas) and their volume: we will recommend a product and send you the technical data sheet, safety data sheet and factory price.
Request advice
Todos los campos son obligatorios excepto el mensaje.
¿Prefieres hablar directamente? +34 938 891 344