The Canadian Commission on Building
and Fire Codes has proposed changes to the National Building Code that would:
· impose
minimum distances between cooling towers and a building’s air intake and
exhaust vents
·
mandate
backflow prevention devices and other drainage controls
·
reference
for reducing legionella risks
This is intended to address the longstanding
problem of inspections and maintenance of a building’s potable water system and
to protect building occupants of legionella disease.
These proposed changes will require building
owners to install service platforms and fixed caged ladders to provide ready
access for inspection, monitoring, and testing of cooling towers.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of Labour and TSSA
inspectors are currently issuing time orders to have this equipment installed (when
an Inspector views a cooling towers without safe access).
With the Inspector’s increased
enforcement this puts pressure on building management to take a proactive
approach.
Pro-Bel can provide an assessment of
your cooling tower to ensure access equipment is installed and is safe to use.
