Posted By Sean Fraser
Andy,

I think you'll find that a legal determination of maximum water temperature is the same that for room temperature indoors - there isn't one!

However, the ACoP for the Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regs 1992 states that:

"199 - Showers which are fed by both hot and cold water should be fitted with a thermic mixer valve to prevent users being scalded."

I think the point here is that where there are separate dispensers (i.e. hot and cold taps) then warnings at the hot tap will suffice to ensure people know it is a) hot water and b) can be b****y hot too! Whereas, reliance on a single dispenser (mixed tap) needs some form of control, but note that it only applied to the shower, so full body scalding is prevented. It doesn't necessarily apply to mixer taps in a kitchen, where the harm is significantly lower - good practice is to run the cold first and add hot gradually, never the other way round. As long as the taps are identified correctly, of course!

My thought is, as long as people are aware that it is a hot tap, they should be aware of the potential dangers. Only an unmarked tap is truly dangerous - the rest is down to human (mis)behaviour.

Posted By Andrew I. Butler
Thank you for your comments they are most appreciated.

Andy