Anti-scald valve

Plumbing code in Israel requires all schools, hospitals and elderly care facilities to install thermostatic mixing valves (anti-scald valves) on the hot water lines. These valves prevent any hot water over 50 degrees Celsius from reaching the sinks and showers. 

In reality, all homes should have anti-scald valves. Especially if one has little kids. 

A brief look into how fast serious damage can occur without an anti-scald valve. 

The hot water in a boiler can easily surpass 70 degrees Celsius. In some cases the water can be well near steaming (If the thermostat valves and the heating element continually heats the water).

The below shows how quickly one can receive third degree burns (burns run from 1st degree to fourth, with the latter being the worst):

70 degrees Celsius: Adult, one second. Child, half a second. 
60 degrees Celsius: Adult, five seconds. Child, one second. 
55 degrees Celsius: Adult, thirty seconds. Child, seven seconds. 
50 degrees Celsius: Adult or child, five minutes. 

Certainly, a thermostatic mixing valve that limits all hot water supplied to ones home to 50 degrees can save lives and prevent serious injury. It give us time to react if a child unsuspectingly turns on the hot water or if someone slips or faints in a shower. 

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