The Building Better Healthcare Award-winning Optitherm thermostatic tap from Horne Engineering has been designed to assist with infection control, ensure safe surface temperatures, facilitate cleaning and maintenance, and provide thermostatically controlled warm water for handwashing, and dedicated cold water for drinking.
The Optitherm’s innovative design allows for water supply isolation and tap removal / replacement without the need to remove any wall panels – eliminating downtime at any wash station, while reducing disruption to water supply and, consequently, minimising any impact on the delivery of healthcare.
Horne says the Optitherm’s “unique design” also facilitates flushing of the water supply, which helps to maintain water quality by removing pipework biofilm to drain.
To further manage the risk of bacterial contamination, the thermal regime for water supply disinfection can be periodically extended to the point of water discharge using the company’s new thermal disinfection adaptor , which allows hot water at supply temperature to flush through the tap body and drain via the tap’s outlet, as recommended in L8 ACOP, Control of Legionella in Water Systems.
The tap’s metal body and internal surfaces are heated by the passing water to system temperature, around 60ºC, to kill bacteria that may be present. A new animation and thermal imaging video fully illustrates this process. Visit the above website address to view the animation.
