Resources
Technical manuals
DA17 Cooling Towers
Updated in 2025, DA17: Cooling Towers is the comprehensive guide to the design, installation and operation of cooling towers in Australia.
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.
To purchase a copy, please visit the AIRAH online store.
Best practice guidelines
AIRAH Water Conservation in Cooling Towers Best Practice Guideline
This document has been prepared to assist the owners and operators of cooling towers and evaporative cooling systems in reducing the water consumption of cooling systems while retaining required performance.
The intention is to identify the ways in which a cooling tower consumes water and outline a series of best practice recommendations to assist the tower operator or water treatment service provider in the reduction of overall tower water consumption.
Water conservation in Cooling Towers BPG – Download here
Case studies
Featured articles
Top ten worst practices: cooling towers (HVAC&R Nation – April 2008)
Top ten worst practices: cooling towers: a contractor’s response (HVAC&R Nation – May 2008)
System performance and efficiency in cooling towers seminar (August 2012)
Sustainability in heat rejection Part 1, Part 2, Part 3, Part 4 – Tim Facius (Baltimore Aircoil Company (BAC))
Optimising cooling water use: The water consumption of 50 cooling towers in Victoria – Sven Denton, M.AIRAH (AquaKlar Analytical Services)
Water efficient cooling towers program – John Fawcett (City West Water)