NCTEC 1992: HSE Cooling Tower Notification Rules

Regulatory citation: Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992 (SI 1992/2225)

What Are the NCTEC Regulations?

The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992 (NCTEC) require anyone with control of non-domestic premises to tell the local authority, in writing, about any cooling tower or evaporative condenser on site. The Regulations came into force on 2 November 1992.

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 cools a fluid passing through a heat exchanger, which is itself cooled by water passing through a stream of air.

Why NCTEC Matters

Cooling towers and evaporative condensers can spread legionella bacteria in fine water droplets. Notification means local authorities know where these devices are, which helps when an outbreak of Legionnaires' disease is investigated. Notification sits alongside the wider duty to control legionella risks.

Core Requirements

1. Identify Notifiable Devices (Regulation 2)

Any cooling tower or evaporative condenser is notifiable unless all three of these apply: it contains no water exposed to air, its water supply is not connected and its electrical supply is not connected. HSE notes that dry or wet coolers that do not rely only on evaporation may not need notifying, but they should still be checked, for example where water is sprayed onto the heat exchanger.

2. Notify Before the Device Is in Place (Regulation 3(1))

A person with any degree of control over the premises must ensure no notifiable device is situated there unless the local authority has been notified in writing on a form approved by HSE. HSE says notification forms are available from the local authority or environmental health department.

3. Include the Required Details (Schedule)

The notification must give the address of the premises, the name, address and telephone number of a person in control of the premises, the number of notifiable devices and where each one is located on the premises.

4. Report Changes Within One Month (Regulation 3(3))

If any of the notified details change, the local authority must be told in writing within one month of the change.

5. Report When a Device Is Taken Out of Use (Regulation 3(4)–(5))

When a device stops being notifiable and is not intended to become notifiable again, the local authority must be told in writing as soon as reasonably practicable. This does not apply when the device is only shut down for maintenance or a seasonal shutdown.

6. Control Legionella Risks

Notification does not replace legionella control. HSE says dutyholders with cooling towers or evaporative condensers must apply appropriate measures to prevent or control the risk, using its Approved Code of Practice L8 and HSG274 Part 1 technical guidance. Cases of legionellosis in employees who have worked on cooling towers or hot and cold water systems likely to be contaminated with legionella must be reported under RIDDOR.

Common Compliance Approaches

Keep a Plant Register

List every cooling tower and evaporative condenser with its location, and link it to the notification records and the legionella risk assessment.

Add NCTEC to Change Procedures

Include notification in project checklists for new plant, relocations, changes of site contact and decommissioning.

Check Hybrid Coolers

Review dry or adiabatic coolers against the definitions, especially if water sprays onto heat exchanger surfaces.

Example: NCTEC in Practice

A food processing plant installs a second evaporative condenser for its refrigeration system. Before the unit is delivered, the engineering manager sends the local authority a notification listing both devices and their locations on a site plan. Six months later the site contact changes, and the new contact details are sent within a month. When the old condenser is permanently removed the following year, the manager notifies the council promptly and updates the legionella risk assessment.

Related regulations: COSHH hazardous substances, RIDDOR incident reporting, MHSWR risk assessments.

Note: This summary reflects the law as it applies in Great Britain, enforced by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) and other enforcing authorities. Northern Ireland has equivalent but separate legislation. Always check the current legislation and HSE guidance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who do I notify about a cooling tower?

Notify the local authority for the area where the premises are, in writing, using the approved form. Forms are available from the local authority or its environmental health department.

Do I need to notify if my cooling tower is switched off for winter?

No. A seasonal shutdown or a shutdown for maintenance does not need to be notified. You only need to tell the local authority when the device stops being notifiable and is not intended to be used again.

Does notification mean my legionella duties are met?

No. NCTEC is only a notification duty. You must still assess and control legionella risks from the system, following HSE's Approved Code of Practice L8 and technical guidance.