Tepid Water for Safety Showers and Eyewash Stations
Emergency wash equipment must provide flushing water quickly and at a usable temperature when exposure to hazardous materials occurs. Water that is too hot can create an additional injury risk, while excessively cold water can make it difficult for personnel to remain under the fixture for the required flushing period.
A tepid water delivery system controls the water supplied to emergency showers, eyewash stations, and facewash equipment so the fixture receives water within the required temperature range.
These systems are commonly used in chemical and petrochemical facilities, oil refineries, power plants, fertilizer plants, and other industrial environments where personnel may be exposed to corrosive materials.
Tepid Water Requirements
OSHA requires quick drenching or flushing facilities where workers may be exposed to injurious corrosive materials. ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 provides additional guidance for the selection, installation, operation, and maintenance of emergency wash equipment.
ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 requires these fixtures to supply tepid flushing fluid, defined as 60–100°F (15.6–37.8°C) and establishes requirements for flow, flushing duration, and accessibility.
Final system design should be confirmed against the applicable standard edition, facility specifications, and project criteria.
ANSI/ISEA Z358.1 Requirements
- 60–100°F tepid water
- 15-minute flushing duration
- 30 PSI
- Min. 20 GPM for safety shower
- Min 0.4 GPM for eyewash stations
- Min 3.0 GPM for eye/face wash units
- Located within 10 seconds of the hazard
Selecting the Right System
System sizing and configuration depend on emergency fixture demand, operating conditions, and project requirements.
- Project requirements: Connections, documentation, and applicable facility safety requirements should be reviewed during selection.
- Fixture demand: System capacity must support the required flow and flushing duration for the connected safety shower, eyewash, or combination equipment.
- Operating conditions: Available supply conditions and the installation environment should be considered when sizing and configuring the system.
Tepid Water System Options
ThermOmegaTech® provides several configurations based on available facility utilities.
Therm-O-Mix® Station
The Therm-O-Mix® Station is an instantaneous steam-fired water heater that uses a facility’s existing steam and cold-water supplies to produce tepid water. The unit is entirely mechanical and requires no source of electricity to function, making it ideal for explosion-proof environments.
ESS Emergency Safety Shower Tepid Water Heater
The ESS tepid water heater is an electric water heater packaged with the Therm-O-Mix® Station/WWM to deliver tepid water to emergency drench systems. This configuration provides a dedicated hot-water source for facilities where an adequate hot-water supply is not available.
Freeze and Scald Protection for Emergency Equipment
Outdoor and exposed safety showers and eyewash stations can also be affected by freezing conditions or excessive heat buildup in the supply piping.
ThermOmegaTech® thermostatic freeze protection valves respond as conditions approach freezing, discharging cold water from the line to help prevent ice formation and pipe damage.
Scald protection valves respond when water becomes excessively hot, automatically purging overheated water until conditions return to an acceptable range.
Both operate mechanically without external power or controls, providing automatic protection for emergency water lines exposed to changing environmental conditions.
Related Products
Need Help Selecting a Solution?
Connect with a ThermOmegaTech® industrial distributor for application-specific support with system configuration, sizing, and product selection based on your facility requirements.