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There are many authorities which recommend a maximum temperature
of hot water:
• The American Journal of Public
Health prefers a maximum
temperature of 120°F for hot water.
•
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the plumbing industry
have published a voluntary standard which states that the maximum
allowable temperature at the water outlet to the bathing area should
be 120°F.
In addition, there are national standards set forth by the major
plumbing code making bodies, which specify a maximum temperature
of 120°F for delivered hot water. The major code making bodies
include:
• Southern Building Code Congress International (South)
•
National Association of Plumbing, Heating and Cooling Contractors
(NJ, DE, MO, NE)
•
Council of American Building Officials (Regulate 1 & 2 family
homes in U.S.)
•
International Association of Plumbing and Mechanical Officials
(West)
•
Building Officials and Code Administrators (Northwest and Midwest
Other nationally recognized plumbing code
bodies that have published or proposed standards specifying 120°F
as the maximum allowable discharge temperature include:
• American Society for Testing & Materials (ASTM F444-88) Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Scald-Prevention
Devices
and Systems in Bathing Areas.
• American Society of Sanitary Engineers and Plumbing Manufacturers'
Institute (ASSE 1016) - Individual Thermostatic Pressure Balancing
and Combination Control Valves for Bathing Facilities.
• American Society of Sanitary Engineers and the Plumbing Manufacturers'
Institute (ASSE 1062) - Temperature Actuated Flow Reducers for
Individual Fixture Fittings. Passed the ASSE Standards Committee
- April 26, 1996
There are a number of other organizations that specify a maximum
of 120°F for delivered water temperature including:
• Burn Prevention Foundation
•
National Safe Kids Campaign
•
American Society of Plumbing Engineers
•
American Trauma Society
•
Shriners' Burn Institute
•
National Burn Victim Foundation
•
American Correctional Association
•
U.S. Dept of Health & Human Services (guidelines for hospital & medical
facility construction) |
