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.
TEL & WHATSAPP (852) 5923 7263 · CR NO. 0118292
1 · Legionella action bands 行動水平
System under control. Maintain quarterly monitoring and keep the water treatment programme running.
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.
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 |
| HCC monitoring 異養菌落計數監測 | Monthly reference minimum 參考最低頻率：每月 | Tick HCC months below 於下表HCC一列按月打勾 |
| Legionella monitoring 退伍軍人桿菌監測 | Quarterly; monthly at medical and health care premises 每季；醫療及護理處所每月 | Record each sample in the applicable month below 按採樣月份於下表記錄 |
| 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 | JAN | FEB | MAR | APR | MAY | JUN | JUL | AUG | SEP | OCT | NOV | DEC |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Operation record completed 運行紀錄 | ||||||||||||
| HCC sample and result recorded / HCC採樣及結果（每月） | ||||||||||||
| Legionella sample and result recorded / 退伍軍人桿菌採樣及結果（按適用頻率） | ||||||||||||
| Cleaning & disinfection done 清洗消毒 |
Tick only when that duty is completed and recorded / 完成該項工作並記錄後才打勾。HCC monthly; Legionella quarterly, or monthly at medical and health care premises. Follow-up sampling depends on results. / HCC每月；退伍軍人桿菌每季，醫療及護理處所則每月。跟進採樣視結果而定。Cleaning at least every 6 months / 清洗每六個月至少一次。Keep records for at least 2 years / 紀錄保存最少兩年。
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。
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。
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.
References
- 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.
- EMSD, Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, Part 1: Design, Installation and Commissioning (2023 edition).
- EMSD, Code of Practice for Fresh Water Cooling Towers, Part 3: Water Treatment Methods (2023 edition).
- 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
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.