Hot water temperature - is this too hot?

[Mottie]

As the weather has got colder, I’ve noticed that the shower wasn’t quite as warm. I measured the temperature at the tap and it was 47°. I’ve turned it up a bit on the tank stat and it’s fine now, however, the water coming out of the tap now feels scalding hot. I measured it and it’s now 55.8°. Is that too hot for tap water?

 

[MNW67]

In what way too hot? Safety issue or worried it will cause damage?

 

[Mottie]

In what way too hot? Safety issue or worried it will cause damage?

Scalding/safety issue.

 

[Madrab]

Depends, normally stored hot water (HW) is kept @ ~60Deg, which usually equates to 50-55deg @ the tap, pipe run/insulation dependent. So your outlet temp isn't too high pre sé. It won't cause damage and as long as everyone is aware and/or it runs through monobloc mixer then the risk is normally reduced. If there are separate taps then again it's an communication issue with everyone that may use it, just to be careful of the hot tap.

Certain outlets would now be controlled by a Thermostatic Mixing Valve (TMV2/3), therefore reducing the outflow temps to ~40deg. This would normally be fitted to a bath but it can also be fitted to the HW outlet on the HW store so all the HW is delivered at a lower temp @ the outlet.

The former is a building regs standard now on new systems to reduce the risk of scalding, with the focus on the elderly and the young.