What standard must be maintained for shower valves to protect users from hot water burns?

Shower valves are required to maintain a maximum temperature of 120 degrees Fahrenheit to protect users from the risk of hot water burns. This standard is established because water temperatures above this threshold can cause serious burns, especially to vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly.

Maintaining the maximum temperature at 120 degrees helps ensure safety while also providing users with adequately warm water for comfort. Moreover, plumbing codes emphasize this temperature limit to mitigate the risk of scalding and to promote safe bathing practices.

While lower temperature limits could compromise user comfort or hygiene, setting the maximum at 120 degrees provides a balance between safety and usability. Establishing no specific standard or a maximum limit that exceeds this could significantly increase the risk of injury.