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Posted By Kevin john Potts
HI Can anyone tell me what temp the water should be when it comes out of the tap ? Our water is in the boiler at above 50 degrees but when it comes out of the tap it is mixed with cold water to via a mixer to prevent staff burning themselves (food warehouse staff wash their hands every time they enter)
The issue is that we are being told that the water temp is failing the test as it is not hot enough when it comes out the tap. There have been numerous complaints that the water was too hot when not mixed with cold water.
Regards
Kev
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Posted By ITK
Kevin
No greater than 43 degrees is the general benchmark to prevent scalding.
ITK.
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Posted By Ron Hunter
The person telling you that is incorrect. HSE document L8 refers (might be free now via the HSE Books site as a pdf.)
Hot water to the mixer must be sufficiently hot and just as importantly, the cold water must be sufficiently cold!
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Posted By clairel
ITK - the temp you are refering to is the guideline for water from taps for elderly and vulnerable people only.
As far as I am aware there is no legal guideline elsewhere.
Water must be stored above 60deg and distributed above 50deg. Where TMV's are used (thermostatic mixing valves) they MUST be situated close to the outlet to prevent water circulating or being stored in pipes below 50 deg.
The temp of water at outlets is related to burns and scalds, hence why the low temp for nursing homes etc.
If you are specifically looking at the control of legionella bacteria and you have stored and distributed at the temps I have indicated then what temperature tha the water comes out of the tap is irrelavant. Water temp coming o0ut of the taps is only an issue where there are vulnerable people.
Hope that makes sense.
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Posted By ITK
ClaireL there is a risk of scalding where the water is above 43 degrees vulnerable persons or not.
The OP said that they have TMVs fitted and that the water was too hot at the outlets at over 50.
Of course it wouldn't be reasonably practicable to insist on TMVs in every situation but if they have already then why not use them.
The reality is they need to assess the risk of scalding and implement suitable control measures which may be setting the water at outlets at 43.
ITK.
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Posted By Flic
As said earlier, the mixing device needs to be very close to the tap so that you are not storing water below the optimum for avoiding proliferation of legionella.
Those doing the water temperature checks should be testing the water temperature upstream of the mixer. I would have a stern word with them!
Flic
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Posted By Kevin john Potts
Thanks folks, my understanding is that they were testing the water coming out of the tap and not the pipework
regards
Kev
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Posted By Ron Hunter
Kevin, I trust you will take further the competency issues associated with this.
I do hope these aren't the people tasked with ensuring your Organisation complies with L8!
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Posted By Kevin john Potts
Yes i have already had a chat with our engineering dept to find out why the contractors are not testing correctly !
Regards
Kev
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