Recognized Water Temperature Control Devices

Existing Standards

ASSE 1017 - Temperature Actuated Mixing Valves for Hot Water Distribution Systems.
These devices are used at the hot water source and are not intended to control the final temperature at end-of-use applications. These devices are typically fitted at the water heater to reduce the temperature distributed throughout a building to safer level (typically 1200F).
ASSE 1016 - Performance Requirements for Individual Thermostatic, Pressure Balancing, and Combination Pressure Balancing and Thermostatic Control Valves for Individual Fixture Fittings.
This is presently the only standard covering devices intended to be fitted at the point-of-use, with both shower valves and behind-the-wall in-line valves currently listed by ASSE. The standard covers three types of devices : pressure balance, thermostatic, and combination pressure balancing and thermostatic valves. These devices are intended to reduce the risk of thermal shock and scalding.
ASSE 1062 - Temperature Actuated Flow Reduction (TAFR) Valves for Individual Fixture Fittings.
These devices reduce the risk of scalding by reducing the hot water flow rate once their set temperature is exceeded. They are effectively a hot water fuse that is reset by allowing cold water to run through the device. They do not offer thermal shock protection.

ASSE 1066 Individual Pressure Balancing In-Line Valves for Individual Fixture Fittings.
These devices simply balance the hot and cold water supply pressures in order to minimize mixed water temperature variations. They do not have a temperature limit stop nor any form of adjustment.

New Standards

ASSE 1016 - Automatic Compensating Valves for Individual Showers and Showers in Tub/Shower Combinations.
This new draft of the 1016 standard is essentially the same except that its scope has been narrowed to specifically reference shower and tub/shower combinations.

Given the narrowing of the scope of 1016, two new standards have been developed:

ASSE 1069 - Performance Requirements for Automatic Temperature Control Mixing Valves.
These devices are intended to control the water temperature to individual or multiple fixtures and reduce the risk of thermal shock and scalding. They are designed to supply mixed water to the end user via a simple on-off faucet of some type. The user is not intended to be able to adjust the temperature of the water delivered from the device.
ASSE 1070 Performance Requirements for Water Temperature Limiting Devices.
These devices are intended to be fitted in-line to a fixture in order to reduce the risk of scalding. They do not offer thermal shock protection.

Typical Applications

1017 device : at the water heater to supply the whole house
1016 device : in the shower fixture for the user to use
1069 device : as the mixing valve to supply a gang of showers
1070 device : to deliver controlled temperature hot water to a bathtub or bank of hand lavatories