A Good Working Climate - Feel Good and Work Well

Comfortable working and store environments are no longer a luxury. Most people today enjoy centrally heated homes and experience the comfort of air conditioning whilst out shopping or travelling in their cars, and this raises expectations within the workplace.

Perhaps, more importantly, there is good evidence to support the business case for managing the temperature within your workplace.

Recent research has shown that concentration is reduced and therefore productivity suffers when working in a workplace which is too hot or too cold. Lack of concentration may also lead to increased risk of accident. More commonly workers can become irritable, and feel tired. From a customer perspective we are less likely to spend time in or return to establishments that make us feel uncomfortable.

What is an acceptable temperature in the Workplace?

Informal guides suggest that a comfort zone of between 16C/61F to 24C/72F is suitable for most types of work.

The Chartered Institute of Building Services provide the following recommendations for temperature in different work areas:

  • Light work in factories - 16C/61F

  • Office and dining rooms - 20C/68F

  • Heavy work in factories - 13C/55F

  • Hospital wards and shops - 18C/64F

Minimum Working Temperature

Health & Safety Regulations set an enforceable minimum working temperature BETWEEN 13C/55F AND 16C/61F. Below this employees have the effective right to refuse to work. However, an employer is normally allowed an hour, from start of work, to achieve this temperature.

Maximum Working Temperature

Although Health & Safety Regulations set no maximum working temperature, it states that "During working hours, the temperature inside workplace buildings must be reasonable". However the Approved Code of Practice (ACOP) to the regulations set out that "all reasonable steps should be taken to achieve a comfortable temperature", this may be taken to include the provision of suitable fans, or portable air conditioning, air-cooling or Climate Control equipment. Check out your cooling requirements with our Cooling Calculator.

What an employer can do

There are a variety of temporary and permanent options available.

Fans and Air Movers

Portable air conditioners

Evaporative Coolers

Fixed Air Conditioning

Full Climate Control

Calculate your Cooling Needs with our Cooling Calculator/ and your Heating Needs with our Heating Calculator

For all aspects of Cooling and Heating visit our website and see our full range of energy efficient Climate Control, Air Conditioning and Heat-for-hire products which are available to either contract hire, rent or buy. Remember - Heat is the No.1 killer of IT equipment and your valuable investments in IT, Data Centres, Server Rooms and Telecom Facilities could be wasted if the correct temperatures are not maintained. Imagine the disruption and financial losses if your business-critical equipment failed?  It's the same for technology in food and beverage processing, workshops and warehousing. Because we understand how critical your IT Systems are to you, we have a large product range of energy efficient Climate Control and Air Conditioning systems, and a service that won’t let you down.

London Cool is a local ‘one stop’ provider of Air Conditioning, Climate Control equipment, Installations & Services for Hire, Fixed Installations & Maintenance, together with emergency temporary solutions. We have one of the largest ranges of Air Conditioning & Climate Control equipment in the UK. London, Birmingham, West Midlands and Crawley, West Sussex.