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Chromium plated finish on point-of-use TMVs may generally, if not universally, be considered to be a “good thing”.
A very large proportion of the TMVs available on the market today are only available in a chromium plated finish.
We have always given our customers a choice with regards to external surface finish; chromium plating is available but the majority of our TMVs leave the factory without plating. Recently we have been considering the pros and cons of plating brass and are increasingly of the opinion that the cons greatly outweigh the (almost negligible) pros....
Chromium plated finish on point-of-use TMVs may generally, if not universally, be considered to be a “good thing”. A very large proportion of the TMVs available on the market today are only available in a chromium plated finish.
We have always given our customers a choice with regards to external surface finish; chromium plating is available but the majority of our TMVs leave the factory without plating. Recently we have been considering the pros and cons of plating brass and are increasingly of the opinion that the cons greatly outweigh the (almost negligible) pros. The virtues of chromium plating are that it is very stable and hard, resulting in great durability and these benefits are evident when considered in the context of polished brass surfaces on terminal fittings such as taps, particularly in our healthcare sectors. However, chromium plating an unpolished brass stamping or casting does little other than change the colour of the plated surfaces and as such constitutes little more than decoration. Point-of-use TMVs are often installed in a concealed location such as in a duct or behind panelling and so visual impact is irrelevant and here chromium plating serves no purpose and is therefore unnecessary.
We are of the opinion that chromium plating that offers little or no functional benefit should be avoided where possible. Water insoluble chromium is not in itself considered to be a health risk however the processes required to create the plated finish may involve acids and create toxic by-products. Additionally, the increased handling costs should also be considered since each component must be prepared, plated and cleaned individually. Un-plated brass is also a more attractive and valuable prospect when it comes to recycling at the end of the product’s working lifespan.
Have a look at the other features and benefits of Horne Thermostatic Mixing Valves.