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Tap Water Scalds
Hot tap water in the home can lead to scalding injuries among young children. Over 300 children, seniors and people with disabilities are treated in hospital annually in Canada for scald injuries caused by hot tap water. Serious burns and scalds require long and painful treatment. They can result in permanent scarring, physical and emotional disability, and years of skin grafting operations. The very young and the elderly are most at risk because they tend to have a slower reaction time and/or thinner skin.
In Canada, most home hot water heaters are set at 60 C. At this temperature, water burns human skin in one to five seconds. A child's skin will burn in less than one second. A slight reduction would have a significant impact on reducing the number and severity of injuries. It would take 10 minutes for a child to suffer a third degree burn in 49 C water, which some have proposed as the maximum temperature for domestic water heaters. However, there is concern about possible technical problems.
The National Building Code currently allows a maximum tank temperature of 60 C. Safe Kids Canada has worked with the Canadian Advisory Committee on Plumbing to develop a proposed amendment to the National Building Code and the National Plumbing Code. The proposal simply states a performance expectation limiting the temperature of hot water at plumbing fixtures to a maximum of 49 C. The designer, supplier or installer would have flexibility in how to meet the requirement. The Canadian Commission on Building and Fire Codes will post the proposed amendment for public review from January 2 to March 31, 2003 (www.nationalcodes.ca). If adopted, it will become part of the code in the spring of 2004.
The CSA/ANSI standard for gas water heaters specifies a preferred factory pre-set temperature setting of 49 C. The next edition of the CSA standard for oil water heaters, expected to be published in early 2003, will also specify a factory pre-set temperature setting of 49 C. The forthcoming oil water heater standard also requires a special anti-scalding water warning label and recommends the use of a water tempering or mixing valve to limit hot water temperature at point of use to 49 C.
The CSA Standard for electric water heaters specifies a 60 C maximum thermostat pre-set temperature setting. The technical sub-committee for electric water heaters is considering the feasibility of harmonizing temperature requirements with the other two CSA water heater standards. CSA is also participating in a task force spearheaded by the Canadian Institute of Plumbing and Heating to address the issue of water temperatures for the retrofit market.
In the standards development process, CSA functions as a neutral third party, providing a structure and a forum for committees of volunteers which develop CSA standards. Committees are structured as a 'balanced matrix', meaning the interests of all participants are considered. Standards are developed using a consensus process, which includes the principles of inclusive participation, and respect for diverse interest and transparency.
Over 20 years ago, several American states (Washington, Wisconsin, Florida and others) mandated that hot water tanks be installed and pre-set at 49 C. In the State of Washington, hospital admissions for tap water injuries were reduced by half within the first five years. In 1988, the industry voluntarily agreed to pre-set hot water tanks across the U.S. to 49 C. However, American products shipped into Canada are still set at 60 C. In other countries, such as New Zealand and Australia, building codes mandate the installation of temperature control devices to limit temperatures.
January, 2003
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Safety Canada January 2003
Heated Debate about Hot Water (July 2005)
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