Anti-scald tap, valve and shower manufacturer Intatec has called upon the government to bring in extra measures, ensuring that the spirit of upcoming changes to building regulations will be taken seriously by the trade. Additions to building regulations come into force on October 1st and will mean that newly built bathrooms will have to have anti-scald valves fitted to baths, with the intention of preventing some of the 20 deaths and almost 600 serious injuries caused by bathtime scalding each year.

According to Cynthia Fisher, Commercial Director of Intatec, similar regulations which came into force in Scotland more than 2 years ago haven’t resulted in any significant increase in anti-scald installations. She said; “Research we carried out in Glasgow and Edinburgh showed that where they could, installers avoided fitting anti-scald valves, we suspect because of additional expense. This is possible by exploiting loopholes in the regulation.”

“We are asking the government to include information on hot water safety in Home Information Packs (HIPs), as a way of introducing anti-scald to the public, which we hope will encourage installers to fit the valves.”

The call was backed by Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State, Department of Energy and Climate Change and MP for Stafford, David Kidney in a visit to the firm’s Stafford premises . He said; “The new anti-scald legislation will be important in beginning to reduce the number of deaths and serious injuries, but it can only work where anti-scald valves are fitted. I have heard claims of loopholes in the Scottish legislation and I believe that we must make sure that the legislation for England and Wales is followed in spirit as well as the letter of the law.”

Intatec have identified that anti-scald valves are sometimes not fitted as they should be, in situations where the work is not subject to scrutiny by a building inspector. Making anti-scald information available on individual properties when a home changes hands is thought to be a good solution to bringing the need for anti-scald devices into the public consciousness.

David Kidney added; “Including information on the anti-scald devices fitted to a home within a Home Information Pack should encourage the valves to be fitted where necessary.”

The regulations also include recommendations on the overall use of water in the home, restricting it to 125 litres per day per person. Requiring information on whether a home complies with this in a HIP should have a similar effect of highlighting the requirement to the public.

Cynthia Fisher concluded; “We have made great efforts to introduce anti-scald to the trade, but to get the whole concept into British homes, making them safer, it needs some pull from the public. In the absence of funding for a big publicity campaign, this should be a good way of making an impact.”

Posted on 14 September 2009