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EMSD cooling tower compliance checklist

The EMSD Code of Practice on one printable sheet — the Legionella action bands, the recurring duties and a monthly tick grid. 冷卻塔合規清單,可列印,貼在機房。

REFERENCEBY GOTECH CHEMICALPUBLISHED 30 AUG 2026PRINTS ON 1–2 A4 PAGES
HOW TO USE THIS PAGE

This is the EMSD Code of Practice reduced to one printable sheet. Print it, laminate it, and keep it in the plant room next to the tower's logbook: the three Legionella action bands, the recurring duties, and a JAN–DEC tick grid for the year's records. The full explanations — with sources — live in the articles linked at the bottom.

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EMSD cooling tower compliance checklist
冷卻塔合規清單
GOTECH CHEMICAL LTD · 高達化工有限公司
TEL & WHATSAPP (852) 5923 7263 · CR NO. 0118292
BUILDING 大廈TOWER ID 冷卻塔編號YEAR 年份

1 · Legionella action bands 行動水平

<10 cfu/mLNOT DETECTED · 未有檢出

System under control. Maintain quarterly monitoring and keep the water treatment programme running.

≥10 – <1,000 cfu/mLADVISORY LETTER · 勸諭信

Investigate and review the treatment programme. Immediate on-line disinfection, then resample within 3–7 days. On an EMSD sample, this band draws an advisory letter.

≥1,000 cfu/mLNUISANCE NOTICE · 妨擾事故通知

Immediate emergency decontamination, then resample within 3 days. On an EMSD sample, this triggers a statutory nuisance notice — failing to comply is an offence.

2 · Recurring duties 恆常責任

Duty 項目Minimum 最低要求Done 完成
Cleaning, desludging & disinfection
清洗、除泥及消毒
At least every 6 months
每六個月至少一次
1st   2nd
Operation records
每月運行紀錄
Monthly
每月
Tick each month in the grid below 於下表逐月打勾
Water quality monitoring — Legionella & HCC
水質監測
Per the Code — quarterly while under control
受控時每季一次
Q1  Q2  Q3  Q4
Record retention
紀錄保存兩年
At least 2 years, readily available
最少兩年,隨時備查
Filed 已存檔

3 · Monthly record grid 每月紀錄

DUTY 項目JANFEBMARAPRMAYJUNJULAUGSEPOCTNOVDEC
Operation record completed 運行紀錄
Water sample taken — Legionella & HCC 水質取樣
Cleaning & disinfection done 清洗消毒

Tick when done and recorded 完成並記錄後打勾 · Samples at least quarterly 取樣每季至少一次 · Cleaning at least every 6 months 清洗每六個月至少一次 · Keep all records 2 years 紀錄保存兩年

4 · What an inspector may ask for 檢查時或需出示

  • Operation & maintenance manuals and records — kept at least 2 years 運行及維修手冊與紀錄(保存最少兩年)
  • Completed checklists, records and logbook covering the past 1 year 過去一年已填妥的檢查表、紀錄及日誌
  • Updated installation documents 最新的裝置文件
  • Laboratory results for Legionella and HCC, with sample dates 退伍軍人桿菌及HCC化驗結果
  • Dated cleaning, disinfection and treatment reports 清洗、消毒及水處理報告

EMSD has sampled fresh water cooling towers at random since 2011 — inspections come without notice. 機電工程署自2011年起隨機抽樣,事前不作通知。

KEEP THIS NUMBER HANDY · 請把這個號碼留在手邊(852) 5923 7263

Gotech Chemical — cooling tower treatment, cleaning and emergency decontamination since 1982. Phone & WhatsApp, Mon–Sat 9:00–18:00. We reply within one working day. 我們會在一個工作天內回覆。

SOURCE: EMSD CODE OF PRACTICE FOR FRESH WATER COOLING TOWERS (2023 EDITION), PART 2 — SUMMARISED. WHERE THIS SHEET AND THE CODE DIFFER, THE CODE PREVAILS. · GOTECHCHEM.COM/EMSD-COMPLIANCE-CHECKLIST.HTML

This sheet condenses two longer guides on this site: the EMSD Code of Practice, in plain English — the water quality table, the full action ladder and the record rules — and cooling tower rules, in plain language, the short version with the enforcement side. If a result has already come back high, go straight to the emergency page.

Questions about the checklist

Can I print this cooling tower compliance checklist?

Yes — this page is designed to print on one to two A4 pages. Use the print button or your browser's print function, then laminate the sheet and keep it in the plant room with the tower's logbook.

What records does the EMSD Code of Practice require for a cooling tower?

Operation and maintenance manuals and records, kept by authorised personnel, readily available for inspection and kept for at least 2 years — including monthly operation records, water quality results, and evidence of cleaning, desludging and disinfection at least every 6 months. Inspections also look for completed checklists, records and logbook covering the past 1 year.

What are the EMSD Legionella action levels for a cooling tower?

Three bands. Below 10 cfu/mL counts as not detected — keep quarterly monitoring and the treatment programme running. From 10 to under 1,000 cfu/mL, investigate, review the programme, carry out immediate on-line disinfection and resample within 3–7 days; on an EMSD sample this band draws an advisory letter. At 1,000 cfu/mL or above, carry out immediate emergency decontamination and resample within 3 days; on an EMSD sample this triggers a statutory nuisance notice, and failing to comply is an offence.

Gotech has treated Hong Kong water systems since 1982. This checklist is general guidance, not a compliance certification for your site — where this sheet and the Code of Practice differ, the Code prevails.

References

  1. EMSD, Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, Part 2: Operation and Maintenance (2023 edition). Electrical & Mechanical Services Department, HKSAR. Legionella control strategies at Table 2.3; cleaning frequency at s.3.4.1; emergency decontamination triggers at s.3.6.1; record keeping at s.4.2.3.
  2. EMSD, Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, Part 1: Design, Installation and Commissioning (2023 edition).
  3. EMSD, Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, Part 3: Water Treatment Methods (2023 edition).
  4. EMSD, Regulatory Control of Water Quality inside Cooling Towers — regulation under the Public Health and Municipal Services Ordinance, Cap. 132; delegated powers effective 24 January 2011; advisory letter and nuisance notice procedure.

Every job includes

  • A free site visit and assessment
  • A written quotation for your records
  • A dated report after every visit
  • Work that follows the EMSD Code of Practice
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Want the ticks filled in for you?

We run the programme, do the cleaning, take the samples and hand you the dated reports — the whole sheet, done.

Request a quotation(852) 5923 7263