What Temperature Is Tap Water

How to Check H2o Temperatures to Minimise the Risk of Legionella Leaner

This curt guide has been written for people managing hot and cold h2o systems in buildings and other facilities and gives a brief overview of where, when and how to check water temperatures and perform other routine tasks associated with the command of Legionella bacteria in hot and cold water systems and Legionnaires' disease.

Why are hot and common cold water temperatures of import?

Legionellosis is a condition caused by Legionella bacteria, and it affects the respiratory arrangement.

The more serious form of the condition is known as Legionnaires' disease which is a serious infection of the lungs.

Information technology is usually defenseless by breathing in pocket-sized droplets of contaminated water.

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Legionella bacteria can spread in human being-fabricated hot and common cold water systems if the water temperature allows this to happen.

The prime temperature for the bacteria to proliferate at is between xx – 45 degrees Celsius (68-113 F).

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How to check water temperatures

Hot and cold h2o temperatures should be checked monthly at diverse points throughout the water system.

These temperatures should then be recorded so they can exist monitored over time to help amend the direction of legionella risks and the command processes in identify.

These records should be kept safely for at least 5 years.

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Checking the temperature from the hot taps

Using an accurate thermometer, bank check the water menstruation from a chosen hot tap.

When doing this for the first time, the tap furthest away from the calorifier/water heater/boiler should exist chosen, this is sometimes called a lookout outlet.

Other representative points can then also be checked in a chosen pattern, eventually repeating the pattern so dissimilar taps are checked monthly.

Here are the main points to annotation:

Hold the thermometer in the hot water flow for one minute
Record the temperature on the thermometer
It should be a minimum of 50 degrees Celsius after one minute
If information technology is below this, advise whoever oversees the site and then the necessary actions tin can be taken to remedy the effect

If thermostatic mixing valves (TMVs) are fitted, these ensure the temperature never exceeds 44 degrees Celsius primarily to forbid hot water scalding.

In this example, the hot water inlet to the TMV should exist checked instead of the hot taps.

Once again, a minimum of 50 degrees Celsius should be recorded in this case.

With a TMV fitted water temperatures at the hot tap should not exceed 44 degrees Celsius.

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Checking the temperature from h2o heaters (calorifiers)

On a monthly footing bank check the water menstruation and render temperatures at h2o heaters (calorifiers).

One manner of measuring these temperatures is to use a surface temperature probe.

The outgoing water should be at least 60 °C in order to kill Legionella bacteria.

Temperatures from cold taps

A like pattern should be followed to that described for hot water above.

Formulate a pattern for rotating through dissimilar cold taps each month:

Hold the thermometer in the cold water flow for two minutes
Record the temperature afterward two minutes
Information technology should exist a maximum of xx degrees Celsius or below
Study and activity as above if it goes in a higher place this

Other h2o checks to make

Brand a monthly check of water temperatures of the flow and return from and to the calorifier (run into above).

Every 6 months, y'all must also check the water temperature in the common cold h2o storage tank:

Cheque temperature at ball valve
Check mains water temperature going into the tank
Confirm and record temperatures as shown on the thermometer on the tank, if information technology has one

Keeping accurate records is of paramount importance.

Make certain it is clear which taps or tanks were checked each fourth dimension, where they are, who checked them, when they were checked, and anything that was amiss and what was done to remedy information technology.

Applied workshop preparation for routine legionella monitoring tasks

To aid people involved in the routine monitoring and maintenance of h2o systems we offering a practical legionella training form designed specifically for those who want to learn how to perform diverse monitoring and maintenance tasks required equally office of an ACOP L8 legionella command and compliance programme …

Ensure you lot take and record h2o temperatures corrrectly with our Practical ACOP L8 Course

This course is ideal for facilities managers, caretakers, building managers, plumbers, maintenance and engineering contractors… in fact anyone with responsibility for the monitoring, inspection and maintenance of hot and cold water systems.

This chore based legionella training course shows you how to perform a number of applied, just of import routine legionella, water rubber monitoring and maintenance tasks on hot and cold water systems… all in accordance with COSHH, the Wellness & Prophylactic Executives ACOP L8, HSG274 and the Department of Health'due south HTM 04-01 … practical training >>

Farther information, communication and support

If y'all require farther information most our applied training class or advice about the control of legionella and the risks from Legionnaires' disease call united states of america today on 0330 223 36 86 or become in touch here … contact the states

Farther reading

For boosted information well-nigh the command of legionella in hot and cold water systems … hither >>