Hot Water Scalds Expert Article
In this article, mechanical engineer, Daryl Smith, P.E., provides an introduction to hot water scalds, including information on the temperatures at which scalding injuries occur as well as the safety equipment designed to reduce the risk of burn injuries.
Hot Water Scalds
Since 1987 Robson Forensic has investigated numerous scalding cases; as a result of these investigations, we have determined that a majority of these incidents were caused by either
- an improperly installed or set tempering/mixing valve, or
- an excessively high temperature setting on a water heater.
Either of these conditions can result in dangerously hot water and an increased risk of scalds.
In some cases a lack of proper maintenance of the water heating equipment, an improperly installed or adjusted shower valve, and/or the actions of the injured person (or the entity charged with supervising the injured person) were also factors in the incidents. Scalding burns are a function of the temperature of the water and the length of time of exposure to the water. Hotter water causes burns to occur more quickly:
Water Heaters
Water heaters typically generate only domestic hot water, but they can also be used to produce heating water. The water temperature produced by a water heater is set and controlled by an adjustable thermostat on the unit. Most water heaters (and their manuals) include scalding warnings and instructions concerning setting/adjusting the thermostat.
When water heaters are used to produce water hotter than ~125°F for heating or other purposes, mixing valves should be installed. Due to a phenomenon known as “stacking”, under certain circumstances water heaters can produce hot water at temperatures as much as 30°F higher than the thermostat’s set point.
Shower Valves
Older tub/shower controls (typically of the two or three knob style) do not contain any “automatic” protection against high temperature water. Newer tub/shower control valves (with single knobs or handles) can have built-in “automatic” temperature limiting features. In most states, codes require that newly installed tub/shower control valves contain these “automatic” temperature limiting features, but the codes do not require that the older style tub/shower controls be replaced with the newer type tub/shower control valves.
In locations where the older tub/shower controls are present, various anti-scald devices are available that can be installed at faucets and shower heads.
Mixing Valves
In addition to producing domestic hot water, a boiler often produces hot water that is used to heat a building. The heating water is typically much hotter than the domestic hot water needs to be; for this reason a tempering or mixing valve is necessary to reduce the temperature of the domestic hot water to a safe level.
Tempering/mixing valves automatically mix cold water with the hot to temper the water down to a preset temperature. In order to set or adjust mixing valves properly, the temperature of the outgoing mixed/tempered water must be measured. Some mixing valves include thermometers in their design, but a majority do not. Instead, a thermometer may be installed in the domestic hot water piping system at or near the mixing valve to facilitate the setting/adjustment temperature checks.
If no thermometers are present in the system, the temperature checks must be done at a fixture. As with all mechanical devices, mixing valves should be checked, inspected and maintained on a periodic basis and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Building Systems Investigations
The mechanical engineers at Robson Forensic are Licensed Professional Engineers who have extensive hands on experience in the design, operation, manufacture, installation and maintenance of heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and equipment. For an evaluation of your case, please contact one of experts today.
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