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Thermostatic mixing valves - TMV |
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| A wide range of thermostatically
controlled products is readily available to control the temperature
of water accurately for showering, bathing and hand-washing
applications. If installed and maintained correctly, these can
significantly reduce the risk of scalding in the home. |
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The function of a thermostatic mixing
valve is to mix the hot and cold water entering the valve to
the temperature that has been pre-selected by the user. This
is done automatically by a thermally sensitive mechanism within
the valve that proportions the amount of hot and cold water
entering so as to achieve the required blend. |
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Thereafter, the mechanism automatically compensates
for variations in supply pressures or temperatures so as to
maintain a safe temperature. Moreover, in the event of cold
water supply failure, the thermostatic mixing mechanism will
automatically "shut down" the flow so as to prevent
dangerously hot water being discharged. |
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Many of us will recall using a manual shower
mixer where the flushing of a toilet or opening a tap elsewhere
has caused a rapid change in shower temperature, and necessitated
rapid evasive action for safety and comfort reasons. |
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Thermostatic mixing valves avoid such occurrences
by controlling the temperature accurately at the point of use,
thus providing the 'comfort factor' when bathing or washing.
They enable homeowners to set precisely their preferred individual
showering temperature and will compensate for variations in
water temperature and pressures. |
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Safety
Preventing very hot water from contacting the skin protects
those bathing or washing from the dangers of scalding. For
use in domestic properties, care should be taken to select
high performance Thermostatic Mixing Valves ideally conforming
to BS 7942 suitable for care establishments. As a minimum
all valves must at least conform to BS EN 1111 or BS EN 1287
as these will shut off the flow of hot water in the event
of interruption of the cold supply. This is of obvious benefit
to those showering or hand washing. It is also particularly
useful for those preparing to take a bath. Despite recommendations
to the contrary, most bathers fill baths by turning on the
hot tap first. They then regulate the bathing temperature
by running in some cold water. This results in a period during
which the bath contains dangerously hot water.
An adult may react quickly enough to avoid serious scalding,
but a child, whose skin is more delicate, could suffer considerable
injury. Older people whose sensitivity is reduced may not
realise the danger until too late. Thermostatic control of
the fill temperature of baths prevents such risks. |
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Peace of mind
With hot water temperatures controlled to safe levels at
the 'point of use' by Thermostatic Mixing Valves, homeowners
can secure peace of mind knowing that they and other members
of their family are protected from the dangers of accidents
through scalding. |
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 Buy
thermostatic shower valves online at discount prices |
