Temperature in an Office

legz890

Hello,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I need some advice.

I work in an office that has more glass than brick and in this heat at the moment or as soon as the sun shines it becomes like a sauna. Our air con has not worked for the past year or so and it is difficult to concentrate or work in these conditions. Our work don't seem to want to do anything about this and I wanted to know if there is anything I can do or someone I can speak to about the conditions?

Is there a maximum temperature rule? Or would a work place have to take certain measure if the air con doesn't work to help their staff?

Thanks

Andy_L

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

andrewjf

legz890 wrote: »

Hello,

Not sure if this is the right place to post this but I need some advice.

I work in an office that has more glass than brick and in this heat at the moment or as soon as the sun shines it becomes like a sauna. Our air con has not worked for the past year or so and it is difficult to concentrate or work in these conditions. Our work don't seem to want to do anything about this and I wanted to know if there is anything I can do or someone I can speak to about the conditions?

Is there a maximum temperature rule? Or would a work place have to take certain measure if the air con doesn't work to help their staff?

Thanks

Have you measured the temperature? Suggest getting a thermometer to collect some data.
The regulations are pretty vague, but there's some information here

legz890

Thanks, I had a look at that before it's more warehouse/industrial related doesn't really give much info for office type places.

Thanks though

legz890

We don't have a thermometer in the office expect for the reception area which is much cooler so that wouldn't really help as we are seperate from there but could do with investing in one and checking just to see how hot is is.. it feels like its atleast above 21 degrees in the office and that's quite stuffy.

Thanks for your help though andrew jf

Idiophreak

Try something like these, will look cool and help block out the sun

mcfisco

legz890 wrote: »

We don't have a thermometer in the office expect for the reception area which is much cooler so that wouldn't really help as we are seperate from there but could do with investing in one and checking just to see how hot is is.. it feels like its atleast above 21 degrees in the office and that's quite stuffy.

Thanks for your help though andrew jf

You need to measure the temperature in the shade somewhere not in the sun

InsideInsurance

The problem is that for offices there is a defined legal minimum temperature but no prescribed upper limit. It is encapsulated in much more woolly aspect that the employer should do all that's practical to create a "comfortable" working environment and needless to say that comfortable is very subjective.

AP007

legz890 wrote: »

We don't have a thermometer in the office expect for the reception area which is much cooler so that wouldn't really help as we are seperate from there but could do with investing in one and checking just to see how hot is is.. it feels like its atleast above 21 degrees in the office and that's quite stuffy.

Thanks for your help though andrew jf

21??? LOL It was said by everyone but two people who worked in my office that 24 was TOO COLD!!

When they turned the air con off it got to 30!!!

I had a thermometer and took photos of it and it gave me headaches and made me feel ill

They then agreed the air con would be set to 24 degrees but 50% of the time some idiot would turn it off and put the heater on!!

Idiophreak

AP007 wrote: »

They then agreed the air con would be set to 24 degrees but 50% of the time some idiot would turn it off and put the heater on!!

I suspect your thermostat may have been wonky...20 should be plenty warm enough for most people, some will prefer 18, others 22, but 24 is pretty warm for most people - you certainly wouldn't want a heater on!

I agree, however, that 21 is pretty low to be moaning about...My wife works in a school and it's not unheard of for the classrooms to reach mid-30s in the summer. Literally *not cool*.

AP007

Idiophreak wrote: »

I suspect your thermostat may have been wonky...20 should be plenty warm enough for most people, some will prefer 18, others 22, but 24 is pretty warm for most people - you certainly wouldn't want a heater on!

I agree, however, that 21 is pretty low to be moaning about...My wife works in a school and it's not unheard of for the classrooms to reach mid-30s in the summer. Literally *not cool*.

wonky? No it was 24 on the air con and they used to turn it off. It was a new system put in.

with the air con off it got to 30