Eyewash stations and safety showers provide critical resources for those working in labs, plants, schools, restaurants and health care facilities. An article in Industrial Hygiene News explained that precisely heated tepid water ensures that those in need of a rapid wash do not fall prey to scarring, painful injury. Reliably heated water is essential to the safe functioning of showers and eyewash stations, so OSHA and ANSI standards regulating the delivery of tepid water are quite strict. Thankfully, building managers and contractors can resolve compliance issues with a single investment in a high-end tankless water heater.
Navigating OSHA and ANSI standards
The two compliance standards to satisfy when meeting compliance for eyewash stations and showers are ANSI Z358.1 and OSHA 1910.151(c). OSHA 1910.151(c), as outlined by the United States Department of Labor, requires workplaces to provide workers with immediate access to safety showers and eyewash stations in any environment where the employee may come in contact with a corrosive substance. ANSI Z358.1 details requirements for these safety installations in a hazardous workplace, specifying performance minimums for any flushing station utilized to provide emergency, on-site care, according to New Mexico State University. The right tankless water heater can help facilities to meet both compliance standards with ease.
Built-in heat control eliminates risks
A critical step in meeting ANSI Z358.1 is installing a compliant mixing valve to the water heating system. This device ensures that the tepid water delivered to point-of-use is always kept within acceptable range, preventing burn and scald risks. Mixing valves can be integrated into a water heating system, but adding complexity to a facility's plumbing creates new opportunities for maintenance problems and installation failures. Tankless water heaters, designed with built-in mixing valves, can be used in lieu of retrofitting an existing heating solution. This strategy reduces the frequency of future repairs and eliminates the need to research ANSI approved mixing valves.
Compact design avoids obstruction
Another important component of meeting ANSI Z358.1 is ensuring that the shower or eyewash station is within 10 seconds of potential accidents and that the path to the station free of any obstructions, reported Safety and Health Magazine. A tankless approach to water heating can help resolve this compliance requirement as well. Bulky reservoir heaters place limits on where wash stations can be installed, forcing building owners to compromise space effectiveness for compliance. Compact by design, tankless water heaters are a tenth of the size of traditional tankless water heaters. The small size allows for maximum flexibility when installing tankless water heaters and safety shower, ensuring point-of-use applications can be placed in an optimum position for achieving compliance.
Point-of-use application reduces costs
In addition to simplifying the process of getting safety wash installations up to code, tankless water heaters also offer cost-cutting benefits for commercial facilities. For instance, installing multiple tankless water heaters near each point-of-use in the facility reduces heat loss from water traveling through pipes and reduces water waste caused by visitors waiting for hot water. Industry-leading models are guaranteed to operate for 20 years, so businesses can feel confident in making a long-term investment in going tankless. Tankless water heaters also eliminate the need of routine flushing by design. The lack of water sitting in a reservoir tank ensures that the appliance's heating element is safe from mineral buildup, further reducing the frequency of necessary repairs.