Cooling towers and evaporative condensers

Licence summary
All premises with a cooling tower or evaporative condenser must notify Southampton City Council that they are there, notify any changes to the device within 1 month of the change, and notify if permanently removed. The reason for notification is to allow monitoring of the device with particular reference to the avoidance of Legionnaires Disease

The current list of notified cooling towers and evaporative condensers can be found at the bottom of this page

Eligibility criteria
A cooling tower is a device whose main purpose is to cool water by direct contact between that water and a stream of air. An 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. Both devices must be notified using the following form, except:
• Where it contains no water that is exposed to air.
• Where its water supply is not connected.
• Where its electrical supply is not connected.

Regulation summary
There is no fee for this notification.
Failure to notify the Local Authority may result in formal action under the Health and Safety at Work etc Act 1974.

You need to notify Southampton City Council about:
• any new cooling towers or evaporative condensers,
• any significant changes to the device, within 1 month of the change
• if any devices are permanently removed

Application evaluation process

Either submit the notification form online or return the completed form to the address below.

You will receive an acknowledgement of receipt within 5 working days.

Will tacit consent apply?

Yes. This means that you will be able to act as though your notification has been received if you have not heard from the local authority within the stated 5 working days.

Applications

Apply online or download, complete the form and post to the address below:

Tell us about a change to your existing circumstances

Regulatory Services (Commercial)
Southampton City Council
Floor 5
One Guildhall Square
Southampton
SO14 7FP

Tel: 023 8083 3002
Environmental.health@southampton.gov.uk