Plumbing.

[adam3132]

I am intreagued. How was it that it became the norm to put cold taps on the right of a basin and hot on the left? This seems to be the same across the world, it has nothing to do with the alphabet but somewhere it must have been decided. I also thought of right handedness, but even this does not seem to follow.

[CheekyChops]

Who cares?

As long as they are labelled hot (red) or cold (blue) then does it really matter?

[teash]

So I take it you`ve got vision from both eyes then CC but there are people out there who actually cant see

[mrknowall]

Teash is correct its for the blind and partially sighted

[heathfield]

The point was also raised years ago that colour-blind people can have difficulty in distinguishing between red and blue, and so taps should be labelled instead of just having a colour code. Nobody's done anything about that.

[gasman]

Yes it is the industry standard throughout the western world to install the hot on the left, as suggested it is for the visually impaired and blind people to be able to use the water safley..

[winny]

It helps kids not scald themselvs too as mine always go for the cold as they know its not hot!!! yet they dont have the concept of h/c ot red/blue.
Have you noticed though how second nature it is for you. Have you been somewhere when taps are back to front and actually noticed because it hasnt got hot when you expected it to. Proving you dont actually look at the symbols most of the time as you know which one should be which simply from repitition through life.

[rojash]

Here in Greece, the location of hot and cold taps is complete random, even within the same house. Also, it's a 50/50 chance that the hot tap will be labelled "Cold" or marked in blue.

[cruella]

Hi Adam3132
I am lol here reading your question. I must have had a drunk plumber when installing our bathroom. My hot tap (mixer) is on the right side of the basin, but my bathroom taps are the wrong way round. My cold taps are on the left of the hand basin and bath. Only just noticed that.
Thanks for the posting and bringing this to my attention.

[rojash]

cruella, maybe you had a Greek plumber...

[cruella]

lol I thought about that

[mrknowall]

I think our Builders had more cold that hot taps our sink has two cold ones.