Canadian Committee proposes maximum temperature for tap water

A federal committee has proposed that the maximum temperature of hot water supplied to fixtures in residential buildings be limited to 49 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit) in order to reduce the potential for scalds and burns. At the same time, the committee decided that the temperature at the hot water heater should be higher — 55 degrees centigrade — in order to ensure that bacteria such as Legionella do not survive.
The committee making the recommendation was the National Research Council Standing Committee on Building and Plumbing Services. The Committee unanimously adopted the proposal, which was made by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating.
The committee accepted the recommendation that automatic compensating mixing valves or other devices can be installed at each fixture, or a master automatic compensating mixing valve can be used to meet the objective.
The request will now be considered by the Provinces and Territories and the Commission on Buildings and Fire Codes. If they accept the change, it could be implemented by mid-2004 and incorporated into the 2005 National Plumbing Code.
“While this change will affect new construction only, it establishes how a minor adjustment to a plumbing installation can have a meaningful impact on public health and safety,” reported Alain Lanthier of IPEX, chair of the Plumbing Industry Advisory Council.
See www.ciph.com