Improved building system technology is making today’s smart buildings safer, more energy efficient, and more attractive to tenants. But ESD, now Stantec Studio Leader and Senior Security Consultant Coleman Wolf says building automated system (BAS) improvements could come with new vulnerabilities. (Read more about intelligent building security.)
Higher water temperatures reduce dangerous pathogens but risk scalding.
In his recent article, “As Infection Control Increases Building Water Temperature, Scalding Prevention Takes Center Stage,” James Dipping addresses the delicate balance plumbing engineers face when trying to make building water systems safer.
Published in PHCP Pros magazine, Dipping’s piece cites new guidelines by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), aimed at addressing the world’s heightened focus on infection control. While hotter water can limit waterborne bacteria, it comes with the risk of potentially scalding tenant users.
Dipping explores how the industry’s shift to higher hot water supply and return temperatures will mean a transition from central temperature control applications to point-of-use controls. Finding the right balance and solution is key to safer overall water supplies.
Want to learn more about building water systems? Reach out to James.