Horne Engineering has announced the latest technical innovation to its range of thermostatic mixing valves. Typically, all TMVs have three connections; one for the cold water supply, one for the hot supply and the third for the mixed water flow. Now Horne has added a "4th Connection".

The ‘4th connection’ is a cold supply flow from the cold side of the TMV and this flow should be connected to the inlet of the cold tap at the wash-hand basin. In terms of a product feature this is simple and perhaps unremarkable but, once the benefits are considered, it becomes far more significant.

The ‘4th connection’ is downstream of the integral isolating valve and fine mesh strainer on the Horne 15 TMV. This means that the strainer protects both the TMV and the internal mechanism of the cold tap.

The strainer itself has been designed to be optimal for the purposes of protecting the internal mechanism of the TMV and for this reason it is also highly suitable for protecting the tap mechanism, particularly where ceramic discs are featured.

The ingress of dirt and debris into a tap can cause significant problems during system commissioning and throughout the lifespan of the tap. However, by protecting the tap with a fine mesh strainer, these problems are greatly minimised or eliminated.

The ‘4th Connection’ also allows for the cold tap to be isolated by the integral isolating valve on the Horne 15 TMV. The cold supply to a TMV often comes from above or below and because the ‘4th Connection’ is at a right-angle to the incoming cold water supply, the need for an additional tee is also eliminated.

In short, the benefits of this simple additional feature eliminate the need for a variety of fittings and all the associated labour that is typically required when installing a TMV, with the added benefits of cold water tap strainer protection.

Published April 2002