KBB

IN HOT WATER

The convenience of having steaming hot water available literally at the turn of a tap cannot be denied, but how can such technology be included in social housing while conforming to the necessary regulations? Leanne Adamson, Marketing Manager at Abode, takes a look.

Hot water taps are taking kitchen design by storm. With a wealth of practical and visual advantages to be had from this latest technology, what started out as something really only available at the top end of the market is now widely available at lower price points too. Consumers are able to enjoy the benefits that hot water taps bring and, once installed, most people wonder how they ever got along without it at all.

The benefits

Being able to turn on a tap to access near-to boiling hot water means no more having to wait around for a kettle to boil, so the benefits in terms of convenience are high. And as we use our kitchens more and prepare healthy meals from scratch, it helps when preparing food too. There is no doubt that a hot water tap helps to save time, but it goes further than that in terms of ensuring the kitchen is accessible, something that is likely to be important when designing kitchens for social housing. With no need for lifting heavy kettles full of boiling water, this is good news for elderly residents, those with dexterity issues and households with young families too.

The style aspects of hot water taps can’t be ignored either. While the taps themselves are available in a choice of looks and finishes to suit any decor, they eradicate the need for a kettle altogether, freeing up worktop space.

The drawbacks

This is all good news until you consider the building guidelines. This is because hot water taps that deliver water at 100°C are not compliant, with developers even having to remove them and replace with standard taps later on in their projects.

The solution

Fortunately though, that doesn’t mean that the advantages of hot water taps can’t be enjoyed by social housing residents. While specifiers need to be mindful of the drawbacks, by opting for models that are WRAS-approved, compliance with all the relevant regulations can be achieved.

That’s because WRASapproved hot water taps, such as Abode Pronteau, combine style, function and safety for the best of all worlds, by delivering the steaming hot water at a maximum of 98°C.

Pressurised systems can cause spluttering and inconsistency with water flow too which, when you are dealing with boiling temperatures, is not ideal. Boilers that store the water at slightly below boiling point, such as the ProBoil 2X, ensure a predictable and regulated stream.

Delivering water at just below its boiling point is actually more beneficial all round, as studies have proven that near-to boiling rather than boiling water is best for making the perfect cup of tea or coffee. And, aside from this actually being the ideal temperature for hot drinks, it also means specifiers can comply with Part G(3) of the Building Regulations, giving consumers what they want, safely.

The Pronteau ProPure 4IN1 hot water tap from Abode delivers filtered piping hot water and filtered cold water, all from the same tap. Putting safety first, a dual-stage handle delivers filtered water at 98°C for the perfect hot drink, as well as great tasting, crystalclear filtered cold water and everyday hot and cold water.

The Pronteau Prothia Swan 3IN1 tap from Abode is the slimmest, most cost-effective steaming hot water tap yet, delivering water at 98°C, along with standard hot and cold water. The compact PB2X boiler supplied with the tap fits neatly under the sink to maximise on storage.  www.abodedesigns.co.uk