Ventilation in the workplace

4. Keeping a comfortable temperature

Businesses must ensure workplace temperatures are reasonable. HSE has guidance on maintaining a comfortable temperature at work[6].

Workers should not be exposed to uncomfortable draughts. For mechanical ventilation systems, it may be necessary to control the direction or speed of airflow. Workstations should be moved or screened if necessary.

If your space is naturally ventilated, there are simple steps you can take to make sure your workplace has enough fresh air without opening windows wide and making it too cold:

  • partially opening windows and doors can still provide adequate ventilation
  • opening higher-level windows will create fewer draughts
  • using trickle vents rather than opening windows

You can also consider regularly airing rooms that rely on natural ventilation, by opening windows and doors in between use.

Desk or ceiling fans

You should not rely purely on desk or ceiling fans in poorly ventilated areas. They won't improve ventilation. However, if your workplace is adequately ventilated, you can use fans to help workers feel cooler.

View a printable version of the whole guide[9]

Link URLs in this page

  1. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/overview.htm
  2. Assessing the risk of poor ventilationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/assessing-the-risk-of-poor-ventilation.htm
  3. How to improve ventilationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/how-to-improve-ventilation.htm
  4. Using CO2 monitorshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/using-co2-monitors.htm
  5. Examples of improving ventilationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/examples-of-improving-ventilation.htm
  6. maintaining a comfortable temperature at workhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/temperature/index.htm
  7. Previous page How to improve ventilation https://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/how-to-improve-ventilation.htm
  8. Next page Using CO2 monitors https://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/using-co2-monitors.htm
  9. View a printable version of the whole guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/ventilation/print.htm
  10. Workplace Health, Safety and Welfare Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/l24.htm
  11. Local exhaust ventilationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/lev/index.htm
  12. COSHH Regulationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/coshh/index.htm
  13. Managing risks and risk assessmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/risk/index.htm
  14. Have the right workplace facilitieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/simple-health-safety/workplace-facilities/index.htm
  15. Chartered Institution of Building Services Engineershttps://www.cibse.org/

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