B9 Reducing hazards that cause minor injury (trauma)
B9.5 Preventing burns
Children and elderly people are particularly susceptible to burns because their skin is thinner. Burns can happen very quickly and severe burns can lead to an emergency evacuation, treatment can involve months, or sometimes years, of hospitalisation and sometimes surgery is required. Even minor burns can result in infection and serious complications, particularly for ill or elderly people.
Fires usually cause the most severe burns, see A3 ‘Fire safety’ for information about strategies to reduce the risk of fires. Household appliances such as hot water systems, stoves and heaters can also cause serious burns.
Hot water should be stored at around 60ºC to prevent microbiological growths. Legislation in all states and territory requires hot water supplies to bathrooms to be fitted with temperature limiting devices. There is some resistance to using temperature limiting devices in areas with poor water quality because the devices are likely to be affected by the water quality and require regular replacement.
Survey data show that almost half (46 per cent) of the total houses surveyed with functioning hot water services had water temperatures above 62ºC, which increases the risk of residents being exposed to scalding and burns, see also B1.2 ‘Hot water’. These data demonstrate the importance of incorporating technologies or strategies in every house to prevent scalding and burns from hot water.
Design and specification
Ensure:
- the temperature of water produced by the hot water system can be regulated and kept below 62°C (as measured at the hot water system; measuring near or at the hot water system allows for some loss of temperature between the system and tap points in the house)
- temperature limiting devices or other means are in place, to limit the temperature of hot water in the house and prevent burns (before ordering, provide water quality information to the manufacturers of temperature limiting devices to ensure the best product is specified)
- the taps are positioned in the shower on the outside edge of the shower rose to allow residents to control the water flow and temperature from outside of the water stream
- that all exposed hot water pipes are effectively insulated (lagged)
- stoves and built-in heaters have an anti-tilt mechanism
- built-in heaters are fitted with guards or other safety mechanisms
- a fire guard is provided for internal fire places to prevent the spread of sparks.
Consider
- fitting guard rails to cooktops
- using wall ovens
- providing wall mounted heaters to reduce contact with flammable items such as clothing.
Quality control
During construction and before making the final payment, check that:
- the temperature of water produced by the hot water system can be regulated and is below 62°C
- temperature limiting devices or other means are in place and suited to local water conditions
- the taps are positioned in the shower on the outside edge of the shower rose
- hot water pipes are effectively insulated (lagged)
- ensure hot water from a hot water system pressure relief valve drains safely to the ground, tundish or gully, and not on to a path or outside living area
- an anti-tilt bracket has been fitted to stoves and built-in heaters
- a fire guard is provided for internal fire places.
Maintenance
As part of cyclical maintenance:
- test water temperature and check that the hot water temperature in bathroom areas is 50°C or less and at all other hot water taps is 60°C or less
- check that thermostat is set to 60°C
| Burns from hot water | Percentage of houses | Total houses surveyed |
|---|---|---|
| Hot water systems | ||
| No hot water system | 2% | 3,093 |
| Electric powered hot water system | 51% | 3,653 |
| Solar powered hot water system | 40% | 3,653 |
| Gas powered hot water system | 6% | 3,653 |
| Heat pump hot water system | 0.4% | 3,653 |
| Solid fuel hot water system | 0.3% | 3,653 |
| Houses with hot water that would burn | ||
| Hot water temperature greater than 62ºC | 37% | 3,615 |
| Hot water temperature greater than 70ºC | 8% | 3,615 |
| Hot water temperature greater than 80ºC | 1% | 3,615 |
Standards and references
Wood, F. M., Fowler B. V., McAullay, D. and Jones, J.R. 2005, ‘Major burns: incidence, treatment and outcomes in Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people in Western Australia’, Medical Journal of Australia, 182 (3): 138NSW Health, Hot water burns like fire, The NSW scalds prevention campaign, Phases one and two 1992-1994. Final report - December 1998
Penny,M. Burns Prevention, Hazard edition 12, September 1992, Victorian Injury Surveillance System, Monash University Accident Research Centre.
Stathakis,V, Hospitalised injuries, Victoria, July 1992-June 1998, October 1999, Report No. 160, Monash University Accident Research Centre.