The Flanders Hotel in Ocean City, NJ recently completed more than $10 million in renovations, revamping almost every portion of the hotel and adding 21 new suits. But the expansion created major issues for the building’s HVAC system’s cooling towers: the old metal-clad tower struggled to provide adequate cooling for the expansion. To ensure comfort for their guests, the Flanders went about updating its cooling tower system. After many consultations with engineers, the hotel’s Director of Operations came across a metal tower alternative constructed out of high-density polyethylene (HDPE). Little did the Flanders know that this alternative would come with some unexpected benefits. Pioneered by Delta Cooling Towers in the 1970s, the engineered plastic towers are impervious to corrosive environments and require fewer expensive water treatment chemicals as well as less downtown for repair. So, in addition to saving the hotel money, it also protects against the growth of pathogens like Legionella. While the area has never had an outbreak of Legionnaires’ disease, the benefit was warmly welcomed. “Our old tower was a breeding ground for pathogens and other microorganisms, and we were very worried that it could cause a health threat to both the guests and our staff,” said the hotel’s Director of Operations. A major benefit to HDPE is that unlike metal, plastic can be manufactured with special antimicrobial resins that are fully compounded into the base cooling tower as well as the casing – effectively inhibiting harmful Legionella growth. The Flanders Hotel had the HDPE tower installed just before Memorial Day 2019, and according to the Director of Operations all the rooms, from the ground floor to the penthouses, were very cool. Business owners across the U.S. could learn a thing or two from the Flanders.[1] Click here for a 100% free consultation. THE MATERIALS ON THIS WEBSITE HAVE BEEN PREPARED BY JULES ZACHER, P.C. FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND ARE NOT LEGAL ADVICE OR A SUBSTITUTE FOR LEGAL COUNSEL. [1] https://facilityexecutive.com/2020/09/hdpe-cooling-tower-its-cooler-on-the-jersey-shore/