What are cooling towers or evaporation condensers
Cooling towers and evaporative condensers help to remove excess heat from large buildings, like power stations or chemical plants. If they are situated on non-domestic premises, you must notify the council in writing.
The legislation is The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992.
Interpretation of terms
| Term | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Cooling tower | A device whose main purpose is to cool water by direct contact between that water and a stream of air. |
| Evaporative condenser |
A device whose main purpose is to cool water of 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 |
A device for transferring heat between fluids which are not in direct contact with one another. |
| Notifiable device |
A cooling tower or an evaporative condenser except-
|
| Premises |
"Premises" means all non-domestic premises used for or in connection with the carrying on of a trade, business or other undertaking (whether for profit or not). |
When to notify us
- Before a cooling tower or evaporation condenser is commissioned
- If changes to the notification information occurs (within one month of the change). Changes include; the name, address and telephone number of a person with management responsibility for the unit; the control of the premises of concern; the number of the devices present; or changes to their location Regulation 3 (3).
- If the device 'ceases to be' (as soon as possible).
There is no need to inform us of a suspended operation for the purpose of maintenance or seasonal shutdown Regulation 3 (5).