2008-09-15
Alongside the TMVA - BEAMA’s group of thermostatic mixing valve manufacturers - and many others, a leading campaigner for the introduction of anti-scald legislation in the home is Mary Creagh, MP for Wakefield.
Now, she has submitted a written response supporting Option 4a of Part G of the Building Regulations consultation. This would see the introduction of a new requirement on the control of hot water temperature to baths in new dwellings, in extensions to dwellings and in dwellings created by change-of-use.
TMVA director Nic Mallinson has welcomed this continuation of pressure on the Government:
“Working closely with the Hot Water Burns Like Fire Campaign, Mary Creagh has been at the vanguard in extolling the undoubted benefits of TMVs. By maintaining this momentum we hope the Government will finally see sense and take appropriate action regarding TMV installation.”
Mary Creagh comments: “We were disappointed that a proposal to change the Building Regulations to include TMVs was not included in the consultation. The reason given was that the cost/benefit analysis is inconclusive, which goes against every other cost benefit analysis carried out in Scotland, Australia, and the United States. They have all proved the efficacy of TMVs.
“Our analysis of the Impact Assessment shows that there are some key assumptions that are incorrect. Using revised assumptions we have shown that there is a genuine financial benefit to installing TMVs, quite aside from the overwhelming moral case. Lifetime burn costs had been underestimated, additional costs to the family ignored, and a new regulation would probably cause TMV prices to fall. These three factors change the cost benefit analysis into an overwhelming conclusion – that fitting TMVs will be worth it purely on economic grounds.
The MP continues: “There is also a much greater benefit from reducing scald injuries than outlined in the Impact Assessment. Providing a figure for the cost of treating scald injuries is very difficult, and the report authors have done as accurate a job as can be expected. However, the underestimate of costs associated with burns intensive care, and the failure to include loss of quality of life figures for injuries other than fatalities, have led to an artificially low level of benefits.
“We are convinced that our own revisions to the Impact Assessment will show ministers and officials that there is a very real financial benefit to be gained from reducing these appalling injuries, aside from the accepted moral case."
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Related contacts
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BEAMA
Westminster Tower
3 Albert Embankment
London
SE1 7SL
Tel: 020 7793 3000
Fax: 020 7793 3003 |
BEAMA Enquiry Email
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Source: BEAMA PR |
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