908.5 Water supply
Cooling towers, evaporative coolers and fluid coolers need an approved water supply sized for peak demand, with water quality that meets the manufacturer’s recommendations. The piping and the protection of the potable water supply follow the International Plumbing Code. Makeup water is a mechanical/plumbing coordination item, not just a pipe stub.
908.6 Drainage
Drains, overflows and blowdown discharge through an indirect connection to an approved disposal location. Chemical-waste discharge must also be approved by the appropriate regulatory authority. Do not assume blowdown can go to the nearest drain; confirm with the receiving sewer authority what it will accept.
908.7 Refrigerants and hazardous fluids
Heat-exchange equipment that contains refrigerant as part of a closed refrigeration system complies with IMC Chapter 11. Where the heat-transfer fluid is flammable, combustible or hazardous, the equipment complies with the International Fire Code.
Why it matters
One piece of equipment can trigger several reviews: mechanical (equipment and refrigeration), plumbing (makeup water, potable-water protection, drainage), environmental or sewer-use (chemical discharge) and fire (hazardous heat-transfer fluids). If those paths are not named early, the permit set shows a complete tower and leaves the utilities unresolved.
Where to show it
As applicable: mechanical equipment plans; plumbing plans and risers; the makeup-water connection detail with its backflow protection; drain, overflow and blowdown routing to the indirect connection; equipment schedules; specifications; and the manufacturer’s water-quality requirements.
Do
Size the water supply for peak demand.
Coordinate potable-water protection with the plumbing code.
Show where drains, overflow and blowdown discharge.
Confirm the chemical-waste disposal path.
Name it when Chapter 11 or the fire code becomes part of the review.
Do not
Show makeup water without its potable-water protection.
Direct-connect blowdown where an indirect connection is required.
Assume treated discharge is automatically acceptable.
Ignore the code path created by refrigerants or hazardous fluids.
Field tip
Draw the water path as deliberately as the air path: makeup → treatment → tower → overflow and blowdown → approved disposal. If that sequence is not readable on the drawings, coordination is not finished. Next: #176 — IMC 908.8 Cooling Tower Bleed & Drift (3/3).
Code basis
2024 IMC 908.5–908.7 model-code education from the owner-provided Daily Code Talk. In Florida the plumbing and fire references resolve to the Florida Building Code, Plumbing and the Florida Fire Prevention Code; confirm the adopted editions and local amendments. Not a water-treatment or discharge-permit determination.