Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992
The Regulations require a person who has, to any extent, control of non-domestic premises to ensure that no notifiable device is situated on the premises unless information specified in the Schedule to the Regulations has been notified in writing to the local authority in whose area the premises are situated.
"cooling tower" means a device whose main purpose is to cool water by direct contact between that water and a stream of air;
"evaporative condenser" means a device whose main purpose is to cool a fluid by passing that fluid through a heat exchanger which is itself cooled by contact with water passing through a stream of air;
"heat exchanger" means a device for transferring heat between fluids which are not in direct contact with one another;
A "notifiable device" means a cooling tower or an evaporative condenser except
(a) where it contains no water that is exposed to air; and
(b) where its water supply is not connected; and
(c) where its electrical supply is not connected
Changes to the information required to be notified must be notified within one month after their occurrence. Where a device ceases to be, and is no longer intended to remain, a notifiable device that fact must be notified to the local authority concerned as soon as reasonably practicable after the cessation. This requirement does not apply where the operation of a notifiable device is suspended for the purpose of maintenance or by reason of seasonal shutdown.
The minimum information that must be notified to the local authority is:
This requirement to register is because, without proper treatment, cooling towers can be the source for the development and dispersion of bacteria, especially Legionella pneumophila the bacteria that causes Legionnaires' Disease.
Registration
All premises that have cooling towers and/or evaporative condensers must therefore register with their Local Authority. All changes and alterations should also be notified to the Local Authority.
If you would like to register either contact us and we will send you an application form or down load and complete the attached form.
Enforcement
Whilst the task of maintaining records of wet cooling systems under the regulations rests with local authorities, responsibility for enforcement in respect of standards of assessment and control is split between the Health and safety Executive and local authorities, depending on the main activity of the premises.
Operators of installations should be aware that both the local authority and HSE will undertake a number of visits to their premises to ensure standards are met and will take enforcement action where appropriate.
