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Air handling units

Information on health risks associated with air conditioning.

Air handling units within buildings may be linked to air conditioning systems.

Some air conditioning systems use evaporative condensers in their cooling process, these types of system must be registered with the local authority under The Notification of Cooling Towers and Evaporative Condensers Regulations 1992.

This sort of air conditioning system uses water in an evaporative cooling process and has the potential to cause outbreaks of disease if not properly maintained, e.g. by producing Legionella bacteria which can cause Legionnaires Disease.

Given the right set of circumstances legionella can multiply and cause infection in people who inhale airborne water droplets containing the bacteria.

For this reason all air conditioning systems which use evaporative condensers within the Rhondda Cynon Taf must be registered with Rhondda Cynon Taf Council's Food and Health and Safety Project.

The primary purpose of cooling tower and condenser registration is ensure that the relevant enforcing authority can be satisfied that suitable control measures are in place to protect employees and the general public from the risk of infection by organisms such as legionella.

Contact us for further information or for a cooling tower notification form.

Public Health and Protection Division

Food and Health and Safety Project

Tel: 01443 425001
Fax: 01443 425301