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Posted By JayneAnne Ridgway
Can anybody help please,
We have a hot water boiler in the kitchen that is currently getting overheated, and when somebody comes to use it is spurts out boiling water everywhere!
I have been asked the Question
Is there any guidelines to how hot water should be?
can anybody help please
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
Jayne,
I would have thought it depends what the water is being used for. If you can provide that information, then it would help.
If the heater is for washing hands, then boiling water is way too hot. Even temperatures above 40 degC can cause scalding.
If it is to replace a kettle and provide hot water for drinks, then below 80 degC will not make an acceptable brew.
Add to this the advice on Legionella which I think lists 60 degC as a minimum to prevent growth (correct me if I'm wrong any Legionella experts) and you're none the wiser.
All this is academic if the heater is not functioning properly or is broken (which you seem to be hinting at) - in that case, it needs repairing and routine maintenance!
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Posted By JayneAnne Ridgway
The boiler is being used just to make brews - tea coffee etc.
thanks
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Posted By Bob Thompson CMIOSH
legionella below 20 and above 60 degrees are the control tempreatures. Hse advice for total body immersion eg baths and showers is 43 degrees max so you will have to introduce other control methods to combat legionella, via engineering measures and procedures. Mashing tea got to be boiling and dont forget to warm the pot.
Regards Bob
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Posted By Chris Packham
I would prefer the HSE to set a maximum temperature for skin contact of 38 deg. C. Anything above this will affect a layer of lipids in the lower stratum corneum (lamellar bodies) and reduce the skin's ability to resist penetration by some chemicals and micro-organisms. It can take the skin quite some time, possibly as long as two hours, to recover.
In fact, the ideal temperature for hand washing/skin cleansing is 32 deg. C.
Obviously we cannot pipe water around the workplace at this temperature, so when I am designing washing facilities for clients it comes down to preset mixer valves with separate hot and cold feeds!
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Posted By Jonathan Breeze
But for coffee - if it's too hot, you can 'scald' the grinds.
He, I should have been a barista!
Thanks for that clarification Bob & Chris.
Jayne,
I think you definitely need to check the thing is fit for purpose here and get the item repaired or replaced asap.
Follow this up with regular inspection and a maintenance regime to prevent recurrence of the problem.
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Posted By Bob Thompson CMIOSH
I agree with you chris, working for a large social services department we have a lot of issues with hot water. we make it a requirement that all people who are to be bathed or showered are subject to a risk assessment to establish any predetermining factors which may effect safety , eg Systemic reynauds , diabetes etc all of which will reduce the persons ability to recognise exessive heat or have adverse reactions to heat.
Regards Bob
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