Horne Engineering have designed and developed the Heatstat T2 (TMV2) thermostatic mixing valve specifically for the domestic market. Additional information about this market is contained in our newsletters,


Thermostatic Mixing Valves and the Domestic Market: The Facts - ISSUE 2'.

'Thermostatic Mixing Valves and the Domestic Market: The Facts - ISSUE 1'.

Government moves to stop bath-time scalding injuries.
ODPM News Release, Tuesday 6 January 2004.

Each year more that 430 very young children are seriously injured in scalding accidents in hot baths, leaving the toddlers facing years of painful skin grafts and their parents a lifetime of guilt.

Now Government Minister Phil Hope aims to make bath-time safer by ordering a review of building regulations, which could see all newly built or converted private properties fitted with a safety device to control the temperature of the water coming out of the showers and hot water taps to baths and basins. The Minister said:

"The bath has the highest number of fatal or serious scalding incidents. Safe water temperatures are essential since most accidents occur with the youn, elderly or infirm either getting or falling into baths that are initially too hot, or in topping up with hot water."

"Thanks to government, industry and the voluntary sector working together, a new generation of thermostatic mixing valve (TMV2), suitable for domestic use, has been developed. Subject to the views of BRAC (Building Regulations Advisory Committee) and a full public consultation, I now believe it is practical to consider bringing the issue within the scope of building control."

The initiative to reduce bath water scalds among young children was originally started by the children's charity Child Accident Prevention Trust:

“These scalds can be life-threatening and the injuries can lead to many years of painful treatment," said the Trust’s chief executive, Katrina Phillips.

“We are delighted that the Government is taking this step to review building regulations.”

Actress and scald victim, Amanda Redman, now a patron of the Children’s Fire & Burn Trust, also welcomed the prospect of new, tougher regulations. She said:

“What a great start to the New Year. This is going to make a big difference to many children’s lives. Parents can minimise the risk of scalding by closely supervising bath-time, so that a child has no opportunity to turn on the hot tap while their parent is distracted. However, the most effective safety measure is the installation of a thermostatic control device to regulate the bath water outlet temperature to reduce the risk of severe scalding.”

The Thermostatic Mixing Valve Manufacturers Association (TMVA) represents many of the mixing valves companies in the UK:

“The problem with bath water scalding begins largely with the need to store heated water at temperatures typically above 60 degrees Centrigade to avoid bacteriological contamination – particularly legionella, a naturally occurring organism that has the potential to kill.

“The new valves provide a solution by mixing hot water (stored at a temperature high enough to kill legionella) with cold water to ensure constant and safe outlet temperatures to prevent scalding,” explained director Dr Howard Porter.

Today’s announcement from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister is the latest in a series of cross government initiatives to tackle housing hazards such as scalding after Department for Trade & Industry research revealed that, unlike most home accidents, scalding statistics were not dropping. The DTI supported work to improve safety information and to encourage industry to review its products.

Meanwhile, ODPM is looking at bringing tap water temperatures under the Building Regulations to improve safety in all newly built and converted private housing. Last month, the ODPM also launched a consultation on the way councils will use the new evidence based Housing Health and Safety Rating System to tackle health and safety hazards in housing. The system will cover a wide range of hazards including those from hot surfaces and materials and will help authorities to identify and deal with the worst cases.