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Enhanced hot water safety and efficiency measures for all new homes

COMMUNITIES AND LOCAL GOVERNMENT News Release (119) issued by COI News Distribution Service on 13 May 2009

All new homes will feature inbuilt protection from hot water scalding in baths and will use water more efficiently under measures announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright today.

From October this year all new build homes will have protective devices fitted to baths to limit hot water temperature, and will need to meet a new minimum standard of 125 litres of water per person per day to improve water efficiency.

Amendments to Part G (sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency) of the Building Regulations were laid before Parliament today.

Iain Wright said:

"Hot water scalding in baths is a real risk particularly for groups like children and the elderly and the Government has been committed to finding a way of doing more to protect people from these injuries.

"The measures I announced today for all new build homes will limit the temperature of hot water in baths, which is where the vast majority of scalding injuries occur. This will really help to protect vulnerable people.

The main amendments to the Building Regulations are:

* the requirement that baths in new homes are fitted with protective measures, such as a thermostatic mixing valve, to limit the temperature of the hot water.

* a water efficiency standard of 125 litres per person per day for new homes.

* extending existing safety measures to all types of hot water systems (not just vented systems).

* setting out where greywater and harvested rainwater can be safely used.

Iain Wright added:

"Homes account for a quarter of the country's carbon emissions so it's essential we tackle this as part of our efforts on climate change. Water plays an important role in making homes more sustainable, and the measures we announced today will help make new homes even greener as part of our commitment to zero carbon homes from 2016."

Notes to editors

These amendments to Part G (sanitation, hot water safety and water efficiency) of the Building Regulations follow a wide reaching review and consultation on the detailed proposals in May 2008 and a consultation in December 2006 on the water efficiency for new buildings.
In addition, we are also today publishing the Water Efficiency Calculator for New Dwellings that will be used to estimate water usage for the purposes of both Part G of the Building Regulations and for the Code for Sustainable Homes.

Copies of the both documents have been placed in the House library.
Communities and Local Government will also shortly be inviting bodies to apply for authorisation of competent person schemes to support the amended Part G and the new requirements on water efficiency.

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