Aerosol Generating System Regulation

Environmental Public Health (Registrable Aerosol-generating Systems) Regulations 2021 stipulate the requirement of all premises with cooling towers (CT), will be required to be registered, under the Environmental Public Health (Registrable Aerosol-generating Systems) Regulations.

Upon successful registration, owners/occupiers will be assigned with a unique NEA ID for their cooling tower and are required to submit water quality test results to NEA at the frequency stipulated in the Regulations. 

The list of the water quality parameters to be tested include monthly HPC test and quarterly legionella bacteria test and the water quality test results are to be submitted electronically via NEA ePortal 

Here are some applicable regulations culled from the Environmental Public Health (Registrable Aerosol-generating Systems) Regulations 2021 that owner or occupier of Aerosol-generating Systems need to be aware of.

REGISTRATION OF REGISTRABLE

AEROSOL‑GENERATING SYSTEM

Application for registration of registrable aerosol‑generating system

3.—(1) A person that is required to register a registrable aerosol‑generating system under section 66A(1) of the Act must apply to the Director‑General for the registration in accordance with this regulation.

(2)  An application to register a registrable aerosol‑generating system must —

(a)be made to the Director‑General in the form and manner that the Director‑General requires;

(b)be accompanied by the information and documents that the Director‑General requires; and

(c)be accompanied by the relevant fee specified in the First Schedule.

Registration of registrable aerosol‑generating system

4.—(1)  Upon registering a registrable aerosol‑generating system, the Director‑General must issue to the registered owner or occupier for the registered aerosol‑generating system, in the form and manner the Director‑General determines, a certificate of registration that states —

(a)the name of the registered owner or occupier;

(b)the address of the premises in or on which the registered aerosol‑generating system is installed; and

(c)the unique registration number assigned to the registered aerosol‑generating system for the registration.

(2)  The registration of the aerosol‑generating system remains valid until it is suspended or cancelled by the Director‑General under section 66A(4) of the Act.

PART 3

DUTIES OF REGISTERED OWNER OR OCCUPIER

General duties of registered owner or occupier

5.—(1)  A registered owner or occupier for a registered aerosol‑generating system must ensure that —

(a)a label (clearly stating the unique registration number assigned to the registered aerosol‑generating system) is affixed at a conspicuous place on the registered aerosol‑generating system;

(b)the registered aerosol‑generating system is —

(i)maintained in good working condition; and

(ii)kept clean and free of algae, dirt, fungi, scale, rust, slime, sludge and any other foreign matter; and

(c)the registered aerosol‑generating system is supplied only with —

(i)rainwater;

(ii)water provided by the Public Utilities Board;

(iii)water collected from the condensate coil of any air‑conditioning system; or

(iv)water from any other source approved by the Director‑General.

(2)  A person that contravenes paragraph (1) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and

(b)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Draining, cleaning and disinfection of registered aerosol‑generating system

6.—(1)  A registered owner or occupier for a registered aerosol‑generating system must ensure that, whenever the use or operation of the registered aerosol‑generating system has ceased for a period exceeding 5 consecutive days, the registered aerosol‑generating system is completely drained of water and kept dry.

(2)  A registered owner or occupier for a registered aerosol‑generating system must ensure that the registered aerosol‑generating system is thoroughly cleaned and disinfected —

(a)at least once every 6 months or at such other intervals as the Director‑General may require; and

(b)in the case where the use or operation of the registered aerosol‑generating system has ceased for a period exceeding 5 consecutive days, before resuming the use or operation of the registered aerosol‑generating system.

(3)  A person that contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and

(b)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

Quality of water in registered aerosol‑generating system

7.—(1)  A registered owner or occupier for a registered aerosol‑generating system must —

(a)obtain a sample of the water in the registered aerosol‑generating system and have the sample tested for conformity to each parameter limit specified in the Second Schedule (not less frequently than the minimum testing frequency for that parameter limit or at such other intervals as the Director‑General may require), in —

(i)a testing laboratory accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council to conduct the test; or

(ii)any other place allowed by the Director‑General; and

(b)submit to the Director‑General, in the manner and within the time that the Director‑General requires, a copy of the results of each test undertaken under sub‑paragraph (a).

(2)  A registered owner or occupier for a registered aerosol‑generating system must not use or operate, or allow the use or operation of, the registered aerosol‑generating system, unless the water in the registered aerosol‑generating system conforms to every parameter limit specified in the Second Schedule.

(3)  A person that contravenes paragraph (1) or (2) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and

(b)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $10,000.

(4)  In this regulation, “minimum testing frequency”, in relation to a parameter limit specified in the second column of the Second Schedule, means the minimum testing frequency specified for that parameter limit in the third column of that Schedule.

Remedial measures

8.—(1)  A registered owner or occupier for a registered aerosol‑generating system that becomes aware, or has reason to suspect —

(a)that the water in the registered aerosol‑generating system does not conform to any parameter limit specified in the Second Schedule; or

(b)that the water in the registered aerosol‑generating system is contaminated by any substance which is likely to endanger the health of any person,must take the following remedial measures:

(c)within 3 days after becoming so aware or having reason to so suspect — thoroughly clean and disinfect the registered aerosol‑generating system;

(d)within 24 hours after the registered aerosol‑generating system is cleaned and disinfected in accordance with sub‑paragraph (c) — obtain a sample of the water in the registered aerosol‑generating system and have the sample tested (so as to ascertain the water’s conformity to each parameter limit specified in the Second Schedule), in —

(i)a testing laboratory accredited by the Singapore Accreditation Council to conduct the test; or

(ii)any other place allowed by the Director‑General;

(e)within 7 days after the completion of the test undertaken under sub‑paragraph (d) — submit to the Director‑General, in the manner and within the time that the Director‑General requires, a copy of the results of the test.

(2)  A person that contravenes paragraph (1)(c), (d) or (e) shall be guilty of an offence and shall be liable on conviction —

(a)for a first offence, to a fine not exceeding $5,000; and

(b)for a second or subsequent offence, to a fine not exceeding $10,000.