Created on: 16 Jun 2025
!! Under Construction !!
Building is Too Cold
The Health and Safety Executive provides guidance for workplace temperature issues.
Regarding Cold Temperatures the following advice is given:
Working in cold temperatures
The minimum temperature in an indoor workplace should normally be at least:
- 16°C or
- 13°C if much of the work involves rigorous physical effort
There are practical steps you can take to keep people as comfortable as possible when working in the cold.
Where the temperature of a regular classroom is below 16 degrees, or a space requring physical effort (such as a gym hall) is below 13 degrees members should raise this with their school rep/H&S rep, line manager, and/or business manager and a resolution should be sought.
Further advice can be found in the EIS H&S Handbook.
Building Too Warm
The Health and Safety Executive provides guidance for workplace temperature issues.
Regarding Warm Temperatures the following guidance is given:
Working in hot temperatures
There's no law for maximum working temperature, or when it's too hot to work, because every workplace is different.
No meaningful upper limit can be imposed because in many indoor workplaces high temperatures are not seasonal but created by work activity, for example in bakeries or foundries.
However, employers must stick to health and safety at work law, including:
- keeping the temperature at a comfortable level
- providing clean and fresh air
Where the temperature of a school is felt to be uncomfortable, members should raise this with their school rep/H&S rep, line manager, and/or business manager and a resolution should be sought.
Further advice can be found in the EIS H&S Handbook.
