The Victorian Building Authority (VBA) has issued a warning to parents and carers on the dangers of older hot water systems which can cause serious burns when the temperature is set too high.
Executive Director of Operations at VBA, Alison Byrne said hot water in baths and showers continued to be responsible for serious and life-changing burns and scalds to small children around Australia each year.
“June is Kidsafe Burns Awareness Month and VBA is urging people to be extra vigilant around hot water in the home, especially in bathrooms, heading into the colder months,” Ms Byrne said.
“Having the water temperature set too high in bathrooms can quickly result in very serious burns,” she said.
“It takes as little as one second for water at 68°C to cause a full-thickness scald leading to scarring for life, agonising pain and hospitalisation.”
Ms Byrne said Victoria’s plumbing regulations limited heated water temperatures in bathrooms to no more than 50°C in new houses and renovations.
“It’s so important to make sure that you have the right protections in place to stop little ones from accidently turning on the wrong tap and burning themselves,” she said.
“The difference between 68°C and 50°C might not seem like much, but it can be the difference between a pleasant bath or scarring for life.”
She said older systems (pre-August 1998) were unlikely to be fitted with tempering valves, but there were various ways to reduce the temperature at water outlets, depending on the type of hot water system is in place.
Ms Byrne said installing a temperature valve or a thermostatic mixing valve could help improve safety and recommended talking to a licensed or registered plumber.
“It is important to remember that the maximum water settings are not bathing temperatures,” she said.
