DEVELOPMENT, BUILDINGS AND LICENSING

Chief Building Official (CBO) and Building Code and Policy

Building Policy Branch

BULLETIN 2018-003-PL

March 21, 2018

The Use of Once Through Cooling and Single Pass Systems n

The Water Works By-law (WWBL) has been amended to prohibit the connection of once through cooling equipment, non-recirculating liquid ring pumps and other single pass systems to the City’s water system (WWBL Section 3.9).

Additionally, existing once through cooling equipment, non-recirculating liquid ring pumps and other single pass systems must be disconnected from the City’s water system by January 1, 2020 (WWBL Section 3.10, which also defines exceptions).

Acceptable: Air-cooled systems

Prohibited: Once-through cooled systems

Explanation:

Once through cooling systems use drinking water in a single pass as a cooling medium. The water used for this process is then drained to the sewer. As a result of this wasteful use of drinking water, many jurisdictions in North America have banned their use. Alternative systems, such as air-cooled systems, are readily available.

P. White

Gas Safety Manager

Assistant Trades Manager

P. Ryan, M.Sc., P.Eng.

Chief Building Official

Director, Building Code and Policyn

D. Wong

Manager, Waterworks Design

City Hall 453 West 12th Avenue Vancouver BC V5Y 1V4 | website: vancouver.ca/CBO

Office of the Chief Building Official | tel: 604.873.7611 | fax: 604.873.7100 | email: cbo@vancouver.ca