Heat Protection in the Workplace: What Are the Rules When It's Hot in the Office?
Every year, many employers and employees find themselves wondering what regulations apply to heat protection in the workplace. The requirements are set forth in the German Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV) and Technical Rule A3.5. Specifically, these documents provide recommendations for employers as well as temperature thresholds at which measures to combat heat in the office must be taken.
Exterior sun protection systems such as Roller Shutters, External Venetian Blinds, and Textile Screens are particularly well-suited for keeping room temperatures in the office or at a home office pleasantly cool. For optimal workplace safety in the summer and a comfortable indoor climate, suitable systems can also be retrofitted into existing buildings.
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Heat Protection in the Workplace: Key Points at a Glance
According to ASR A3.5, employers should take initial measures to protect against heat stress in the officewhen the room temperature reaches 26°C or higher.
When the room temperature reaches 30°C, effective countermeasures against heat stress are mandatory.
Exterior sun protection systems are among the most effective technical measures against heat in the office.
Roller Shutters, External Venetian Blinds, and Textile Screens block the sun’s rays before they reach the window, thereby preventing rooms from becoming uncomfortably hot.
Workplace Safety in Hot Offices—What Are the Guidelines?
The German ArbStättV requires employers to design workplaces in such a way that employees’ health is protected at all times. This means that employers are also responsible for protecting employees from temperatures that are harmful to their health. This duty of care is specified in Technical Rule ASR A3.5 issued by the Federal Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (BAuA).
This technical rule on indoor temperatures specifies the range within which temperatures in office spaces should fall: temperatures between 20 and 26°C are considered acceptable for health. It also stipulates which measures must be taken to provide heat protection in the summer once certain temperature thresholds are exceeded.
Threshold values for office spaces:
There are no specific regulations governing the measures employers must implement to lower the room temperature . In most cases, employers can choose and implement the methods at their own discretion.
What can you do to beat the heat in the office?
It is a widespread misconception that employees are automatically given time off work during extreme heat. Nevertheless, employers must ensure that temperatures in office spaces remain at a level that is safe for health, even in the height of summer. Technical measures are particularly effective for this purpose: electric cooling systems and exterior sun protection systems help keep rooms cool even when outside temperatures are high.
High-performance sun protection systems such as Roller Shutters, External Venetian Blinds, and Textile Screens prevent rooms from becoming uncomfortably hot in the summer. When closed, they block and reflect the sun’s rays before they can hit the windows. In addition, they provide insulation by shielding against external heat and preventing cool air from escaping.
Immediate Measures for Health and Safety in the Office During Hot Weather
If no suitable technical measures to combat heat in the workplace are available, employers can take various immediate steps. While these are less effective, they still help ensure compliance with labor law requirements regarding heat protection in the office.
Proper ventilation: Windows should be opened in the early morning hours to let cool air into the rooms. Once the outside temperature exceeds the temperature in the office, it is best to keep the windows closed.
Close existing sunshades: Although interior sunshades are less effective, they should still be kept closed. This allows employees to protect themselves from direct sunlight.
Take advantage of flexible work schedules: Employees on a flex-time schedule should start their workday as early as possible to minimize the time they spend working during the hot afternoon hours.
External Heat Protection for the Workplace
When it comes to heat in the workplace, exterior sun protection is one of the most effective structural measures. While interior blinds or curtains block sunlight only after it has passed through the glass pane, Roller Shutters, External Venetian Blinds, and Textile Screens are effective before the sun’s rays even hit the glass. Aluminum external venetian blind slats and Roller Shutter Profiles reflect the sun’s rays, providing optimal protection against heat.
External Venetian Blinds offer an additional advantage for office spaces. With their continuously adjustable slats, they provide effective glare protection at the workplace and optimal lighting conditions for computer screens. Plus, with External Venetian Blinds, you don’t have to sacrifice natural daylight. By leaving the slats slightly open, you can let light in while still reflecting most of the sun’s rays—providing pleasant shading at the window and reducing indoor heat by up to 75 %.
High-quality Textile Screens also block the sun’s rays before they even reach the window, effectively contributing to a more comfortable indoor climate. Thanks to the transparency of the special Textile Screen fabrics, natural daylight can still enter the room. This allows for both heat protection and comfortable room lighting at the same time. Depending on how much sun protection or light you want, fabrics with different openness factors can be installed —providing greater protection for south-facing windows and maximum light for the remaining windows.
Exterior sun protection systems with electric drives not only offer added convenience but also play a valuable role in keeping the office cool. Electric Textile Screens and electric exterior blinds can be linked to sun and temperature sensors. This ensures that the sun protection opens and closes exactly when needed.
When combined with a ROMA Smart Home system, the sun protection can also be controlled remotely—conveniently via an app or a timer. This ensures that rooms remain protected from outside heat even when no one is in the office.
Retrofit Heat Protection
Even in existing buildings, effective heat protection can usually be retrofitted to workplaces without major construction work. The same applies to home office workspaces. Front-Mounted Textile Screens and Front-Mounted External Venetian Blinds are mounted above the window on the building facade, so no alterations to the building structure are required. There, they provide optimal heat protection without sacrificing natural daylight in the workspace.
When combined with a solar-powered drive, installation becomes even easier, as solar-powered sun protection requires no additional electrical wiring. It operates independently of the power grid and, in addition to providing heat protection, makes a significant contribution to improving energy efficiency.
High-Performance Heat Protection for Home Offices and Offices from ROMA
Whether in the office or at a home workspace: With its high-performance Roller Shutters, External Venetian Blinds, and Textile Screens, ROMA offers the right solution for every window to provide reliable heat protection in the workplace. ROMA’s systems are suitable for new construction and energy-efficient window retrofits, making them flexible options for installation and retrofitting as long-term solutions against heat in the office.
Contact a ROMA specialist partner near you and benefit from durable, top-quality heat and glare protection.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) About Heat Protection in the Workplace
At what temperature must employers take measures to protect employees from heat in the office?
When the indoor temperature reaches 26°C or higher, the ASR A3.5 technical guideline recommends that employers take initial measures. If the temperature rises above 30°C, they are required to implement effective measures to combat heat in the office.
Do employees have the right to time off due to extreme heat?
No, employees do not have a blanket right to time off due to heat when temperatures rise in the office. However, employers are required to offer measures such as working from home and flexible hours once temperatures reach a certain level.
What measures are effective for combating heat in the office?
Technical solutions such as electric air conditioning and exterior sun protection are the most effective. External Venetian Blinds and Textile Screens are particularly well-suited for offices, as they block sunlight before it reaches the windows, prevent rooms from overheating, and still allow for the use of natural daylight.
What are the advantages of exterior sun protection systems?
Exterior sun protection systems reflect solar radiation, thereby preventing heat from entering the room in the first place. Compared to interior solutions, they significantly reduce heat gain while also providing insulation against outdoor heat.