Three essential water control valves for healthcare plumbing systems

We all know the importance of safety in plumbing systems, but nowhere is this more significant than in healthcare environments.

Hospital buildings and care homes have a responsibility to prioritise the safety and wellbeing of patients, staff and visitors. To achieve this, effective water control valve specification is critical. Where plumbing systems are concerned, this is particularly important, with proper system specification influencing performance, safety and even ongoing maintenance.

In this blog, we’ll explore the importance of expertly specified healthcare plumbing systems and look at three valves that are essential to safe and reliable performance. 

To make it possible to care for thousands of people day after day, hospitals are backed by colossal plumbing systems – many aspects of which are subject to specific regulations such as the NHS D08 guidance. But despite their enormous scale and complexity, a well-specified system prioritises functionality and safety for every user – from medical professionals through to patients and visitors.

This varied user base means that different parts of the system will cater for different needs. Where patients are concerned – many of whom will be vulnerable – water needs to be delivered at safe temperatures to prevent occurrences of scalding. It’s also important that bacteria is managed and its growth stunted in order to keep systems safe. 

Water control valves are essential in delivering safer plumbing systems for users that operate effectively, ensuring high water quality and safer water temperatures. To select the right ones, however, it is important that specifiers consider the individual characteristics of their system – from water usage through to potential contamination points.

Typically, there are three types of water control valves that are essential for specification in healthcare settings, so let’s take a look at each individually to understand their purpose. 
 

1. Thermostatic Mixing Valves (TMVs) 

First up, it’s TMV’s. These valves are designed to allow hot water systems to run at temperatures that are high enough to prevent bacteria growth - by limiting the temperature to an outlet to a safer usable temperature.

In healthcare applications, only TMV3-approved valves are allowed, and the specification, installation, testing and maintenance requirements are set out by the NHS D08 specification as well as the supplementary document HTM04-01. Each outlet must have an independent TMV installed, to ensure safety requirements are met, and these valves must be limited to designated maximum hot water outlet temperatures of between 38°C to 44°C. It is also important that the valve specified is reliable and easy to maintain.

Ticking all the boxes for use in healthcare buildings is the Reliance Valves Heatguard TMV3-8 which features flat-faced unions on both inlets and outlets to make servicing and maintenance straight forward. The valve also features a longer outlet port, which allows a faster response when the fail-safe function is triggered. This feature, common to all TMV3-approved valves is where the water from the valve is terminated in the event of either cold or hot water supply failure. The TMV3-8 longer body, creates a smooth and secure shutdown as the thermostatic piston has further to travel to shut off the supply connections. 
 

2. Anti-Legionella Valves 

While the temperature of water can cause harm if too high, ambient temperature rises in cold water systems can also be dangerous. A common high-risk point where this occurs is within cold water expansion vessels. When an outlet is opened, any water left within the vessel after use, can begin to stagnate if not fully drained. Water stagnation and rising water temperature are the optimal conditions for bacteria to begin to grow.

Specifying Anti-Legionella Valves for cold water storage vessels can mitigate stagnation. The Anti-Legionella valve from Reliance Valves features an integral paddle which agitates the contents of the vessel during use, eliminating the risk of stagnation. 
 

3. Backflow Prevention Valves 

The scale and complexity of healthcare plumbing systems can also increase the potential for backflow, making for another important consideration for specifiers.

Backflow is where sudden drops in pressure can force water to move in the opposite direction, potentially causing contamination within the supply. This can happen in any system, but the risks are far greater in environments like hospitals, where often, applications deemed Fluid Category 4 cold water contamination risks can occur.

To deliver a safe water supply and remove the risk of backflow or back siphonage contamination, Reduced Pressure Zone (RPZ) valves – such as the Commercial Type BA RPZ Valve – must be installed to ensure the mains cold water supply remains clean and uncontaminated from substances that could make users seriously ill. These valves are fully verifiable, and must again be installed and tested per water regulations guidance.

They must be tested by an approved tester on an annual basis to ensure the functionality is maintained. The valve features two internal checks; and a relief valve port with tundish which allows for direct connection to a drain. 

Where systems are being specified for hospitals, care homes and other types of healthcare facilities, it is crucial to have a complete understanding of the environment – from anticipated usage requirements through to the specific regulations that apply. It is also important to be familiar with the full variety of valves that are available to reduce risk, prioritise safety and deliver consistent performance.

As a leading manufacturer of water control valves, Reliance Valves and its expert team can provide the solutions and support needed to deliver on every project. Working together, you can equip every healthcare facility with safe plumbing systems that can be relied on for years to come.