New York City Requires Immediate Cooling Tower Registration
The new requirements, which took effect the date that the bill was signed, require all building owners to register cooling towers through the cooling tower registration link on the Department of Building’s web site by September 17, 2015. All new cooling towers installed after that period must be registered with the Department of Building before use. Section 28-317.2 of the Administrative Code defines a “cooling tower” as a “cooling tower, evaporative condenser or fluid cooler that is part of a recirculated water system incorporated into a building’s cooling, industrial process, refrigeration, or energy production system.”
Building owners must also file an annual certification confirming compliance with the Administrative Code asserting that cooling towers have been inspected, tested, cleaned and disinfected consistent with the applicable Department of Health and Mental Hygiene regulations.
Cooling towers that are subject to extended shut-down for more than five days must be cleaned and disinfected within fifteen days before the use of such tower. If a cooling tower is removed or its use is permanently discontinued, the owner/operator must notify the Department of Building within thirty days and certify that the cooling tower was drained and sanitized in compliance with Health Department requirements.
Violators of registry, certification and inspection requirements are liable for civil penalties up to $10,000. A failure to disinfect towers with increased microbes is classified as a misdemeanor, punishable with fines up to $25,000.
For more information, or if you have any questions, please reach out to your WithumSmith+Brown Tax Advisor or a member of Withum’s Real Estate Services Group at [email protected].
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John Riso, CPA 732-828-1614 [email protected]
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