Cooling towers registration - Print version

Many large factories and office blocks have cooling towers and evaporative condensers associated with their air conditioning units. As there is a risk of spreading legionnaires disease from these units all premises where cooling towers and evaporative condensers are situated must register with the Council under The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992. Registered premises within Coventry which are enforced by the Council for health and safety may be subject to an inspection/intervention visit.

Eligibility criteria

The law requires that persons in control of premises have a duty to notify the Local Authority in writing with details of 'notifiable devices' (cooling towers and/or evaporative condensers) except where they contain water that is not exposed to the air and the water and electricity supply are not connected.

If you install any kind of cooling tower or evaporative condenser you have a legal duty to notify us within one month of the installation.

If a cooling tower becomes redundant or dismantled then this should also be notified to us. For more details in terms of the definition of cooling towers or evaporative condensers refer to the Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992 [http://www.legislation.gov.uk/cy/uksi/1992/2225/made]. The main purpose of the regulations relates to the control of legionella and the investigation of legionnaires disease.

Who needs to register?

If you are in control of premises then you must let us know if a notifiable device (cooling tower or evaporative condenser) is situated on those premises.

The notification should include the address of the premises, number of towers/condensers on site and the details of a responsible person who may be contacted should it be necessary.

Application process

Apply for a Cooling Tower licence online via the GOV.UK website [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/cooling-tower-notification/coventry/apply-1].

There is no inspection prior to registration. The management of the systems will be assessed during routine health and safety inspections of the premises.

An acknowledgement that the notification has been added to the database along with a specific reference number will be forwarded within five working days of receipt.

Does tacit consent apply?

Yes, tacit consent does apply to this application.

Charges

There is no charge to register.

Supplementary information

A plan of the site showing the position of the towers/condensers.

Right of appeal

Notifications will not be rejected.

Length of licence

The notification is a once only process.

Change of circumstances

Operators are required to advise Coventry City Council of changes to the notification such as the removal or addition of towers at the site.

You can notify the Council of changes to a Cooling Tower by using the GOV.UK website [https://www.gov.uk/apply-for-a-licence/cooling-tower-notification/coventry/change-1].

Public registers

The public registers of all applications made to the council are available to view through our online licensing register [http://licensing.coventry.gov.uk/MVM/Online/EGov/License_Registers/Registers_Criteria.aspx].