TMV servicing
What are TMV’s?
A thermostatic mixing valve (or TMV for short) uses a temperature sensitive element to mix hot and cold water to a temperature that safeguards against the risk of scalding.
Why would TMVs be used or fitted?
TMVs are commonly used in health care and educational settings to protect vulnerable people from the risk of scalding hot water from outlets such as handwash basins, baths, and showers.
The use and fitting of TMVs should be informed by a comparative assessment of scalding risk versus the risk of infection from legionella.
How will I know I have TMV’s on my site?
These will be listed in the asset register within your legionella risk assessment. If you do not have a current Legionella Risk Assessment, please get in touch with our team and we can advise.
“A Legionella risk assessment is required under health and safety law and is a key duty when managing the risk of exposure to legionella bacteria,” states Matthew McCormack, our Technical Sales Consultant for Scotland.
A Legionella risk assessment is a technical evaluation used to help identify potential risk factors within buildings, premises, and facilities. The findings are then used to pinpoint what interventions are required and the protocols and systems that need putting in place in order to establish robust Legionella risk controls. The risk assessment should be carried out by an experienced, qualified individual, with the right credentials to ensure compliance and safety.
How often should TMV be serviced?
Where the risk assessment considers fitting TMVs appropriate, the strainers or filters should be inspected, cleaned, descaled, and disinfected annually or on a frequency defined by the Legionella risk assessment, taking account of any manufacturers’ recommendations.
To maintain protection against scald risk, TMVs require regular routine maintenance carried out by competent individuals in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
Glasgow based Technical Sales Consultant Matthew McCormack adds, “Children and the elderly are particularly at risk from scalding from hot water. This is why our clients see Thermostatic Mixing Valve or TMV servicing as an essential part of their planned maintenance.”
“Swiftclean supports clients across Scotland with a range of expert services including the installation and replacement of thermostatic mixing valves, TMV servicing (including cleaning, descaling and disinfection of strainers) and failsafe testing to ensure safe temperatures are produced. This helps our clients to ensure their compliance with the relevant health and safety standards.”
To keep TMV’s safe, a service should include:
- A Temperature Check
To ensure safe, accurate and reliable temperature control is achieved and maintained at water outlets (baths, showers & taps) in accordance with health and safety standards, by testing the outgoing mixed temperature of valve.
- Water Quality Standard Check
Maintaining the appropriate water quality standards and flow rates with regular stripping, cleaning, descaling and disinfection of the TMV valve components.
- Failsafe Operation Test
Ensuring that the TMV failsafe mechanisms operate and function properly.
- TMV Specification Check
Review all TMV’s to ensure that the correct specification valves are installed.
- Record Keeping Check & Update
All TMV maintenance, inspections and services must be recorded as a reference – we store these digitally on our client portal for safekeeping and tag each valve with a date of service.
Regular flushing of showers and taps should also be carried out as well. Servicing could also include cleaning, descaling and disinfection, to extend the lifespan of the TMV and to maximise its operational capacity.
For more information on TMV Servicing please get in touch.
0800 243 471
Thank you to the contributors to this article:
Matthew McCormack – Technical Sales Consultant – Scotland
Tel: 07824 858735
Matthew covers all Scottish postcode areas, including Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeenshire, Dumfriesshire, Fife, Inverness and West Lothian
and
David Randlesome – National Sales Manager – Legionella Services
Tel: 07917 168427
