• Hot water Tempuratures

    Posted on March 19, 2014 by in Holiday & winter Information, Katy News

    Please take time to read the information below. It may not seem to important but it could save someone’s life!

     

     

    Each year, approximately 3,800 injuries and 34 deaths occur in the home due to scalding from excessively hot tap water. The majority of these accidents involve the elderly and children under the age of five. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges all users to lower their water heaters to 120 degrees Fahrenheit. In addition to preventing accidents, this decrease in temperature will conserve energy and save money.

    Most adults will suffer third-degree burns if exposed to 150 degree water for two seconds. Burns will also occur with a six-second exposure to 140 degree water or with a thirty second exposure to 130 degree water. Even if the temperature is 120 degrees, a five minute exposure could result in third-degree burns.

    A temperature-control valve protects against rapid temperature fluctuations by automatically maintaining the discharge temperature to +/- 3 F (+/- 2 C) of the selected temperature. Every shower and combination tub/shower must have a control valve that is capable of protecting an individual from being scalded while taking a shower. Such a control valve must be installed at the point of use. To prevent an accidental scald, a maximum set-point feature is required for the valves. The valve can be adjusted to prevent the water temperature from rising above 120 F (49 C).

    Temperature Burn Chart


    Water Temperature

    Time it takes for an adult to
    become scalded with a
    third-degree burn
    Time it takes for a child to
    become scalded with a
    third-degree burn
    155 F (68 C)

    1 second

    0.5 seconds
    133 F (56 C) 15 seconds 4 seconds
    120 F (49 C) 5 minutes 2:30 minutes
    100 F (38 C) safe temp. for bathing safe temp. for bathing

    The hot water supplied to the bathtub and whirlpool bathtub valves should be limited to a maximum temperature of 120 F (49 C) by a control valve.

    Fixture fittings and faucets that are supplied with both hot and cold water should be installed and adjusted so that the left-hand side of the water temperature control (when facing the outlet) represents the flow of hot water.

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