How often must an expert check an evaporative cooling system?

Every five years after commissioning (Section 14(1) 42. BImSchV).

Who may carry out the check?

A publicly appointed and sworn expert or an accredited type A inspection body (Section 14(1) 42. BImSchV).

Does the authority receive the result?

Yes. The operator instructs the inspector to send the result to the operator and the competent authority at the same time, within four weeks of completion (Section 14(2)).

Does the duty also apply to cooling towers and wet separators?

Yes, Section 14 applies to all systems covered by the 42. BImSchV: evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators (Section 1(1)). For parts of installations requiring a permit, the permit may set different rules (Section 14(3)).

DE · Expiry & renewal tracking

Book the five-yearly expert inspection of your cooling system in time

German operators of evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet scrubbers must have proper operation checked every five years after commissioning by a publicly appointed expert or a type A inspection body (Section 14(1) of the 42nd BImSchV). Results go to operator and authority within four weeks (para. 2).

The operator of an evaporative cooling system, cooling tower or wet separator has the proper operation of the system checked every five years after commissioning. The check may be carried out by publicly appointed and sworn experts or by accredited type A inspection bodies (Section 14(1) of the 42nd Federal Immission Control Ordinance, 42. BImSchV).

The operator instructs the expert or inspection body to send the results to both the operator and the competent authority at the same time, within four weeks of completing the check (Section 14(2)). During the check, the operator presents the operating log entries to the inspector in plain text at any time on request (Section 12(3)).

For existing systems, built before 19 August 2017 and commissioned before 19 February 2018 (Section 2), the first checks were due between 19 August 2019 and 19 August 2022, depending on the year of commissioning (Section 14(1)). For systems operated as parts or ancillary facilities of installations requiring a permit under immission control law, the authority may set different inspection requirements in the permit (Section 14(3)).

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At a glance

Interval	Every five years after commissioning (Section 14(1))
Who inspects	Publicly appointed and sworn expert or accredited type A inspection body (Section 14(1))
Result	Sent to operator and authority at the same time, within four weeks (Section 14(2))
Operating log	Shown to the inspector in plain text on request (Section 12(3))
Notifying a new system	No later than one month after first filling with process water (Section 13(1))
Installations requiring a permit	The authority may set different rules (Section 14(3))

Who is responsible?

Arranging the check and instructing the inspector to report the results is the operator's job (Section 14(1) and (2)). The operator also notifies changes to the system, decommissioning and a change of operator within one month at the latest (Section 13(3) and (4)).

If the deadline passes

Anyone who fails to have a check carried out under Section 14(1), first sentence, or has it done incorrectly, incompletely or late, or fails to make the report under Section 14(2) or makes it late, commits an administrative offence (Section 19 nos. 14 and 15 42. BImSchV).

Laboratory tests are a separate deadline

The five-yearly check does not replace the operator's ongoing duties: for evaporative cooling systems and wet separators the process water is lab-tested at least every three months (Section 4(2) and (3)), for cooling towers at least monthly (Section 7(2)). A separate entry makes sense for these.

Tracking it with ExpirySuite

Add an entry for each system and enter five years after the last check as the due date.
Email reminders arrive 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before the date and on the day itself. With 60 days' notice there is time to book an expert or inspection body.
The inspector can upload the inspection report through a secure link that is valid for 14 days and needs no account.
Assign a responsible person, such as the facilities team; emails arrive in each recipient's language. If a date passes, managers get further reminders 3, 7 and 14 days later.

Frequently asked questions

How often must an expert check an evaporative cooling system?: Every five years after commissioning (Section 14(1) 42. BImSchV).
Who may carry out the check?: A publicly appointed and sworn expert or an accredited type A inspection body (Section 14(1) 42. BImSchV).
Does the authority receive the result?: Yes. The operator instructs the inspector to send the result to the operator and the competent authority at the same time, within four weeks of completion (Section 14(2)).
Does the duty also apply to cooling towers and wet separators?: Yes, Section 14 applies to all systems covered by the 42. BImSchV: evaporative cooling systems, cooling towers and wet separators (Section 1(1)). For parts of installations requiring a permit, the permit may set different rules (Section 14(3)).

Sources

Last checked: Oct 1, 2026 · This page summarises official sources for general information and is not legal advice. Check the linked sources for current rules and fees.

Made for evaporative cooling system expert inspection (42. BImSchV) (Germany)

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Reminders on time

Email alerts at 60, 30, 14, 7 and 1 day before each evaporative cooling system expert inspection (42. BImSchV) (Germany) expires, plus overdue escalation to managers.

Assign an owner

Give each evaporative cooling system expert inspection (42. BImSchV) (Germany) an owner and let employees update their own via a secure link — no login needed.