All new homes will feature inbuilt protection from hot water scalding in baths and will use water more efficiently under measures announced by Housing Minister Iain Wright.

From October this year all new build homes will have protective devices fitted to baths to limit hot water temperature, and will need to meet a new minimum standard of 125 litres of water per person per day to improve water efficiency.

Mr Wright said: "Hot water scalding in baths is a real risk particularly for groups like children and the elderly and the Government has been committed to finding a way of doing more to protect people from these injuries.

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"The measures I announced for all new build homes will limit the temperature of hot water in baths, which is where the vast majority of scalding injuries occur. This will really help to protect vulnerable people."

The main amendments to the Building Regulations are:

• the requirement that baths in new homes are fitted with protective measures, such as a thermostatic mixing valve, to limit the temperature of the hot water
• a water efficiency standard of 125 litres per person per day for new homes
• extending existing safety measures to all types of hot water systems (not just vented systems)
• setting out where greywater and harvested rainwater can be safely used