Criterion HS109#

# The temperature of warm water delivered from taps that children can access independently is not higher than 40°C, and comfortable for children at the centre to use.

Guidance#

How to show you are complying#

You must be able to show that the warm water flowing from taps accessed by children is comfortable and does not exceed 40°C.

We consider warm water between 25°C and 40°C to be a comfortable temperature. There are many ways to demonstrate compliance with this requirement. It largely depends on your context, including whether you use a hot water cylinder, continuous hot water, or a water heater.

Tempering valves and thermostatic mixing valves#

If you use a hot water cylinder to store hot water, you could use a tempering valve to make sure the water temperature does not exceed 40°C.

A tempering valve is a safety device fitted by a plumber to provide water to taps at a consistently controlled temperature. It works by mixing hot and cold water between the hot water source and the outlet.

You could also use a thermostatic mixing valve to regulate water temperature. A thermostatic mixer will need to be installed by a plumber. It automatically blends hot and cold water to deliver water at a safe, consistent temperature of typically between 38°C and 50°C.

Continuous hot water systems#

If you have a continuous flow gas hot water system, you could set the thermostat to deliver water between 37°C and 40°C for taps that children can access.

These systems are electronically controlled and can be installed with up to 3 temperature controllers for different water outlets. They are normally factory set to 55°C, so you will need to change the setting to 40°C or less.