Caution Safety Notice Very Hot Water LabelLBG5
Description
The Atom Caution Safety Notice Very Hot Water label is designed to be affixed to outlets whereby water drawn carries a risk of scolding.
Guidance
Legionnaires' disease is a potentially fatal type of pneumonia, contracted by inhaling airborne water droplets containing viable Legionella bacteria.
Such droplets can be created, for example, by:
- Hot and cold-water outlets.
- Atomisers.
- Wet air conditioning plant.
- Whirlpool, or hydrotherapy baths.
Anyone can develop Legionnaires' disease, but the elderly, smokers, alcoholics and those with cancer, diabetes or chronic respiratory or kidney disease are at increased risk.
Following the discovery that legionella is caused by a hot water being stored between a temperature range where a rapid increase of bacteria is likely to occur where nutrients are present in the stored water. The bacteria which cause legionella are dormant below 20°C and do not survive above 60°C.
Therefore, owners of commercial premises are recommended to ensure the temperature of hot water always exceeds 60°C to negate the production of the bacteria. It is recommended that:
- Hot water storage cylinders (calorifiers) should store water at 60°C or higher.
- Hot water should be distributed at 50°C or higher (thermostatic mixer valves need to be fitted as close as possible to outlets, where a scald risk is identified).
- Cold water should be stored and distributed below 20°C.
In situations where these recommendations cannot be met, and there is a risk of scalding, there is a need to warn users that the water drawn from an outlet is likely to be very hot. This is done by affixing the Atom Caution Safety Notice Very Hot Water label to the outlet.