Mark VenderAiming high for cooling tower efficiency
AIRAH, with support of the ARBS Foundation, has published an updated version of DA17: Cooling Towers.
The newly updated design application manual is the comprehensive guide to the design, installation and operation of cooling towers. It provides guidance on the classification, manufacture, design, construction, installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of cooling towers and cooling water systems.
The 2025 version is particularly relevant for those working on data centre projects, many of which are now turning to cooling towers to manage heavy cooling loads.
Proven and progressive
“Cooling towers have never been more relevant to the HVAC&R industry,” says DA17 editor Vince Aherne, F.AIRAH. “Importantly, advances in technology and design have allowed us to optimise the use of energy and water.
“New designs and materials, new operating protocols, IoT-enabled monitoring systems, and a new understanding of tower water chemistry and microbiology issues means that the health risks can now be mitigated. Minimum energy performance standards for towers have also been documented.
“New cooling towers are lean green cooling machines; in fact, the only aspect of modern cooling towers that is not going green is the water!”
Vince Aherne, F.AIRAH
“The fourth edition of DA17 builds on previous editions by including comprehensive information on these new cooling tower technologies, new management strategies and new applications. Anyone who owns, operates, designs, builds, installs, commissions, maintains or assesses a cooling tower should be familiar with the contents of this application manual.”
The manual provides information on various cooling tower types, components, configurations and their application. Materials of construction, water sources and quality standards, access requirements and weathering resistance are all discussed. Detailed design advice is included for sizing, selection, and optimisation of towers, as well as system control strategies and monitoring and metering considerations. Tower siting, enclosure, support, piping, wiring and fire protection are examined, with details on access requirements, installation, commissioning and performance testing.
Operating and maintenance are also covered by this manual, including minimum mandatory requirements, standard maintenance requirements and industry best practice. Water conservation, energy efficiency, and plume abatement are all discussed, as are noise management, public health issues and risk management.
ARBS Foundation support
The update of DA17 has been completed with the assistance of the ARBS Foundation to help promote the energy efficient application of evaporative cooling towers in the HVAC&R industry.
“The ARBS Foundation is pleased to be able to support the next evolution of DA17 alongside AIRAH,” says ARBS Foundation Chairman Simon Bradwell, M.AIRAH.
“This update will materially lift the standard of cooling tower design, safety and sustainability across our industry, particularly for the data centre sector. As a Foundation, we invest in projects that genuinely move HVAC&R forward, and DA17 will become a vital reference for designers, contractors and asset managers nationwide.”
Order your copy of DA17
The new edition of DA17: Cooling Towers can be preordered from the AIRAH website, with heavy discounts for AIRAH members. Free online access for AIRAH members will be available from early December.
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