Thermostatic Bath Taps - Keep Your Child Safe

Children can be vulnerable to burns from scalding bath water, which is why parliament called for thermostatic bath taps to become regulation in 2006.

The fact parliament felt the need to table a private members' bill in 2006 on thermostatic bath taps shows how serious the problem of scalding in the bath can be. Thermostatic bath taps work by ensuring water temperature doesn't exceed 48C. It's estimated that around 600 people a year suffer extreme scalding and burns from bath water, and the majority of those are children.

Campaign for Thermostatic Bath Taps

Doctors supported the 2006, saying hot water can burn like fire, which pushed the MP Mary Creagh to try and change the law to ensure all baths use thermostatic bath taps. Those most vulnerable to burning bath water are children and pensioners, who have thinner skin and are less able to quickly get out of a burning bath. If thermostatic bath taps were used, such horrific accidents simply wouldn't happen. Although it's impossible to make sure all homes currently have thermostatic bath taps, the law hoped to ensure all new-builds would use thermostatic bath taps.

Thermostatic Bath Taps: A Safety Measure

Boilers store water at temperatures of up to 60C in order to kill bacteria, but thermostatic bath taps make sure that water never reaches more than 48C in the bath itself, protecting users from accidental scalding. Legislation on installing thermostatic bath taps was passed in Scotland before the UK, and has long been enforced in Australia, New Zealand and Canada. Some people believe government legislation on thermostatic bath taps is an interference too far, that people should take responsibility for their own safety. But doctors have spoken of cases where children with severe scalds from baths that didn't use thermostatic bath taps have needed reconstructive surgery, skin grafts and long term scar management as a result of their burns.

Remove the Risk with Thermostatic Bath Taps

No matter how guarded you are with your children around hot baths and hot drinks, children can be difficult to monitor every second of the day. Playing with hot taps or leaping into the bath before you've put cold water in is all too easily done. And the statistics show this, with an estimated two children dying every year from hot bath water injuries and 3,500 children a year receiving treatment for serious burns from hot bath water or hot drinks (2006 figures). The simple move of installing thermostatic bath taps means this horrific and avoidable risk can be removed from a family's life.

Looking for Thermostatic Bath Taps? Speak to Heat & Plumb

Heat and Plumb are one of the UK’s leading suppliers of plumbing goods for homes and businesses. Offering a range of leading supplies for bathrooms, kitchens and businesses at fantastic prices, Heat and Plumb has a sales team with over 60 years of collective experience. If you need expert advice or to find out more about the range of showers, plumbing and heating accessories on offer from Heat and Plumb, just call 0871 272 22 22 or fill in our online enquiry form.