Is there a Health & Safety Guideline limit...

[The Large One]

... on minimum and maximum office environment temperatures?

Our office is in an old townhouse (rather than a purpose-built building), and some numpty turned off the heating over the weekend to the effect that it's still bloody freezing in here.

The temperature gauge says 14ºC, though it was only 9ºC when I came in this morning.

Anyone know?

 

[strings]

The Workplace (Health, Safety and Welfare) Regulations 1992 lay down particular requirements for most aspects of the working environment

Regulation 7 of these Regulations deals specifically with the temperature in indoor workplaces and states that:

During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable.

However, the application of the regulation depends on the nature of the workplace i.e. a bakery, a cold store, an office, a warehouse.

From the Health and Safety Executive

It goes on to say it should be 16 degrees celcius.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

What is the maximum/minimum temperature in the workplace?

 

[bhafc99]

If some of the girls in my office had their way, the minimum would be 36oC and the heaters left on maximum blast 365 days a year.

 

[Tooting Gull]

Why call it 'reasonable' and not just put a temperature on it for anybody not working in a freezer test centre? Bloody lawyers, they probably drafted these regulations and deliberately left carte blanche for some of their compadres to argue the toss about it in court later and make even more money.

 

[The Large One]

Cheers, chaps.

Not particularly helpful. Minimum recommended is 16ºC. The thermometer has just reached that, and it's still feels cold.

Ho-hum - looks like a session hugging the radiator...

 

[Lethargic]

Am am lead to believe that although the max temperature is a legally requirement the minimum is only a recommendation so no you need to get hypothermia and then sue.

 

[Lord Bracknell]

The reality of work is that there NEVER comes a point at which an employee can say to the boss "The temperature in here is XºC, that means we can all go home".

The best you can hope for on a day like this is that the boss might suggest you wear your coat and scarf.

 

[beorhthelm]

Why call it 'reasonable' and not just put a temperature on it for anybody not working in a freezer test centre?

so that the law doesnt have to have a list of each and every single vocation, profession, workplace etc, and doesnt have to be updated when someone starts a new business that doesnt fit the list.

Am am lead to believe that although the max temperature is a legally requirement the minimum is only a recommendation so no you need to get hypothermia and then sue.

other way round, the minimum is legal limit but upper is open ended.

 

[Durlston]

The summer of 2003 it got unbearably hot one afternoon in a warehouse in Burgess Hill where i was working.Really awful conditions.I took my top off and carried on as usual.Soon after the boss comes over to me and says "Would you mind putting your top back on.You're not at the beach now.Besides it's not appropriate showing your tattoo's here." I stood my ground and said "Unless we get fans in you'll have to get used to looking at them" Soon after the fans appeared.

 

[Everest]

Typical. H&S think their guidelines help people. What it does is totally confuse everyone.

 

[mcshane in the 79th]

As beorhthelm said, I don't think there is a law on the maximum temperature.

 

[RexCathedra]

Ask Mr. Scrooge nicely and I'm sure another scuttle full of coal will materialize. It is the season, after all.

 

[Pavilionaire]

f***ing hell, just put on a jumper and get on with your job you workshy twat!

 

[seagullsovergrimsby]

If you feel too cold working in an office all it means is that you are not working hard enough and the simple solution is to wear a coat.

 

[Garage_Doors]

In my office the inside temperature is the same as the outside temperature until i get the wood burning stove going when i arrive in the mornings.
so this morning it would have been -1 Its always been like that and never thought anything of it,
Grow some balls man !