Legislation

The workplace (health, safety and welfare) regulations 1992 require employers to meet certain standards of comfort for employees. Arcotherm can advise on the most appropriate solution to meet any temporary or specific heating or cooling problems.

Summaries of existing legislation follow and are available on http://www.hse.gov.uk

“Effective and suitable provision shall be made to ensure that every enclosed workplace is ventilated by a sufficient quantity of fresh or purified air. Ventilation of a workroom is essential to secure the health and safety of the occupants.

During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable. A method of heating or cooling shall not be used which results in the escape into a workplace of fumes, gas or vapour of such character and to such extent that they are likely to be injurious or offensive to any person.

A sufficient number of thermometers shall be provided to enable persons at work to determine the temperature in any workplace inside a building.

A "reasonable temperature" involves consideration of what an employer can be sensibly expected to achieve in particular circumstances, as well as the comfort of the worker; for instance what is considered a ‘reasonable’ temperature for a corridor is likely to be lower than that for a workroom where people normally work for more than short periods - beyond 2 hours.

Achievement of a suitable temperature should ensure adequate comfort of individuals, without the need for special clothing. A minimum temperature of 16oc is specified (or 13oC where much of the work involves severe physical effort). However, it states that these minimum temperatures may not always provide adequate comfort and may need to be exceeded to provide a reasonable temperature.

Where it is impractical to secure a comfortable temperature throughout a room, a reasonable temperature should be provided at each workstation by the provision of localised heating or cooling.”

Arcotherm has vast experience in providing the most compliant and appropriate heating and cooling solutions, so we can advise you on the best equipment to use.

http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/temperature.htm