Over recent years there has been a number of outbreaks of Legionnaires’ Disease associated with wet cooling systems (cooling towers and evaporative condensers or wet air conditioning units), which have often resulted in serious cases of infection and fatalities in about 12% of cases. Such outbreaks also give rise to considerable public concern and take up significant enforcing authority resources.
If you operate or have a cooling tower or evaporative condenser present on your premises, you will need to register if one of the following applies:
the main purpose of the cooling tower is to cool water by direct contact between that water and ambient air (open to the atmosphere)
the main purpose of the evaporative condenser is to cool fluid by passing that fluid through a heat exchanger which is itself cooled by contact with water passing through ambient air (open to the atmosphere).
Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992
The purpose for the registration is to identify where potential sources of risk are located and allow for easier identification, monitoring and inspection by the enforcing authorities.
Although the council keeps a register of cooling towers and evaporative condensers, we may not be the enforcing authority for health and safety matters at the premises. Health and Safety may be enforced by the HSE depending on the main work activity carried out at the premises.
You must provide notification before the cooling tower or evaporative condenser is located on the premises.
How will my application be determined? There is currently no provision in legislation for determining notifications. However, when you register your cooling tower(s) and/or evaporative condenser(s), your details will be kept on a public register.
How much will it cost? No fees are currently charged for cooling tower and evaporative condenser registration.
No further information or evidence needs to be supplied after your application.
We will process your registration within 7 working days. If acknowledgement of receipt or your application has not been processed against the times above, please contact us.
Yes, tacit consent will apply. This means that you will be able to act as though your application is granted if you have not heard from us by the end of the target completion period.
There is currently no provision in legislation for refusal of registration. Once we receive your registration, we will register your cooling tower(s) and/or evaporative condenser(s).
You must contact us if circumstances change regarding:
If you have a complaint or concern about a cooling tower or evaporative condenser or believe the cooling tower or evaporative condenser has not been registered, contact us.
If you are in the UK, advice is available from adviceguide
If you are outside the UK, advice if available from the UK European Consumer Centre
Please view the Cooling Towers Register
Health and Safety Team,
East Staffordshire Borough Council
PO Box 8045
Burton upon Trent,
DE14 9JG
United Kingdom