§ 8-06 System Shutdown and Startup; Commissioning and Decommissioning Cooling Towers.
RCNY § 8-06
All records required pursuant to this section must be retained and produced in accordance with subdivision (a) of 24 RCNY § 8-07.
(a)Full system shutdown. Procedures to shut down a cooling tower system must be supervised by a qualified person and conform to the manufacturers’ recommendations. When shut down, the cooling tower system must be completely drained of all water from anywhere in the cooling tower system and be protected from offline contamination. The owner of a cooling tower must notify the Department electronically, in a manner specified by the Department, within 5 days of any cooling tower system shutdown.
(b)System startup. A startup includes a systematic and progressive process of putting any part of a cooling tower system into operation. At a minimum, before cooling tower system startup, an owner must clean and disinfect a cooling tower that has been shut down within the 15 days before operation. Cleaning and disinfection are also required prior to operation after any period of no circulation lasting 5 days or more in any part of the cooling tower system in accordance with § 17-194.1 of the Administrative Code. The owner of a cooling tower must notify the Department electronically, in a manner specified by the Department, within 5 days of any cooling tower system startup. The maintenance program and plan must include detailed startup procedures that are supervised by a qualified person and include, at a minimum: (1) Identification of the detergents, dispersants, and compatible biocides to be used and the circulation times for the cleaning and disinfection; and (2) Procedures to collect samples for Legionella culture within 3 to 14 days of startup and take actions required by Table 8-1 when results are received; and (3) Performance of a pre-startup inspection by a qualified person; and (4) Once there is water in any part of the cooling tower system, the system is in operation. Procedures to recirculate the water in the cooling tower in accordance with 24 RCNY § 8-05(b) once startup cleaning and disinfection are done; and (5) Established adjustments to water treatment program to accommodate added system volume and cooling load if additional cooling tower component(s) are brought online or operating configuration is changed during operation.
(c)Installation and commissioning of new cooling towers. Installation occurs when a physical connection of cooling tower equipment is made to a water supply and power supply. Newly installed cooling tower systems must be registered with the Department of Buildings cooling tower registration system in accordance with § 28-317.3 of the Administrative Code. Newly commissioned cooling towers must be cleaned and disinfected prior to operation according to this section and the maintenance program and plan. Once cleaning and disinfection are complete, the cooling tower system is in operation and must comply with the requirements of this Chapter, including for process control measures and water treatment.
(d)Removal or permanently discontinuing use and decommissioning of cooling towers. The owner of a cooling tower must notify the Department of Buildings of decommissioning electronically within 30 days after removing or permanently discontinuing use of a cooling tower in accordance with § 28-317.3.1 of the Administrative Code. Such notice must include a statement that the cooling tower has been drained and sanitized in accordance with this section. Decommissioning includes removal of all water, permanent disconnection of water supply to the cooling tower system, and permanent disconnection of the power supply for the cooling tower equipment. If the cooling tower equipment has not been physically removed, a sign or plate must be posted that is conspicuously visible and constructed of a durable, weather resistant material indicating that the cooling tower equipment is not registered with NYC and must not be filled with water or put into operation.
(e)Operation period. The owner of a cooling tower must notify the Department electronically, in a manner specified by the Department, of the operation period as defined in 24 RCNY § 8-02. (Added City Record 4/7/2016, eff. 5/7/2016; amended City Record 4/8/2026, eff. 5/8/2026)
