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Prevent scalds, advises Honeywell

Measures should be taken to prevent scalding hot water in basins, showers and baths warns Honeywell, the leading manufacturer of water valves and heating controls. In healthcare, thermostatic mixing valves certified to Buildcert TMV3, such as Honeywell TM200VP, must be fitted. Valves to the domestic TMV2 standard, such as Honeywell TM300, are acceptable for most other premises but a risk assessment should be carried out to determine if the facilities are used by vulnerable people, such as the elderly, young children or the mentally or physically disabled. If so, TMV3 valves should be installed to provide the maximum safety level.

Honeywell thermostatic mixing valves employ a highly sensitive wax element which controls the hot and cold water inlets to provide a safe uniform temperature. They also ensure safety by cutting off the hot water inlet automatically if the cold supply fails. They are designed for convenient “under-basin” and “under-bath” installation. A lockable safety cap displays the temperature set point and prevents unauthorised adjustment.

Honeywell explains that the problem of scalding water has become more acute recently because, to prevent risks from Legionella, hot water must be stored at a temperature of at least 60 degrees C and distributed at 50 degrees minimum – dangerously hot for bathers. So there must be fail-safe mixing control at the outlet to prevent scalding.

Having campaigned over several years to make parents and carers aware of the danger of scalding water in bathrooms, Honeywell welcomes the ten minute rule bill tabled by Mary Creagh MP in the Commons (29 March 2006), which calls for thermostatic mixing valves on all new baths to prevent scalding hot water from taps.

Children and the elderly are at particular risk of life-threatening scald burns, but scalding is wholly preventable, says Honeywell.

About 450 UK children under five are admitted annually to hospital with a severe scald caused by bath water. Tragically, some die. A further 2,000 suffer less severe scald injuries. Many more such accidents lead to lengthy and painful treatments and permanent scarring. (Source: Child Accident Prevention Trust)

A few seconds’ lapse can damage a child for life, warns Honeywell. Those who complain that this is an invasion of civil liberties cannot have not seen photographs of a seven year old girl, with no skin from the waist down, who will need skin grafts from somewhere else on her body every 12 to 18 months until she stops growing.

The elderly are at increased risk because their skin tends to be less sensitive, says Honeywell, so they might not be able to pull away from hot water quickly enough to avoid scalding. They also tend to be less agile and so are at risk of injury while trying to escape from a scalding bath or a blast of hot water from a shower. Scalding injuries often cover a large area of the body, leading to high rates of morbidity and mortality.”

Email: matthew.gordon@honeywell.com