How cold does it have to be for schools to close? School and workplace guidance

The cold weather hitting the UK this week may have workers and students reluctant to leave their warm beds in the mornings. But, once you’ve braved the icy commute, there’s nothing worse than arriving at a chilly office or classroom.

The effects of the cold on a worker or student's general well-being and productivity can be significant, as long-term exposure causes weariness, poor productivity, and attention problems. In the workplace, employee grievances and absenteeism may also rise.

Heating and cooling issues are fairly frequent in offices and schools. Older buildings may have outdated heating and cooling systems, which can cause temperature differences within a structure and even between adjacent spaces.

Additionally, temperatures within a building can fluctuate based on the time of day, the season, the number of windows and doors, and other factors.

According to the government website, during working hours, the temperature in all indoor workplaces must be reasonable. The government also says that schools must follow the same health and safety laws for indoor temperature as other workplaces.

But what is a reasonable temperature?

What are the laws around temperature at work and school?

There’s no law for minimum or maximum working temperatures, for example, when it’s too cold or too hot to work.

That said, the guidance suggests a minimum of 16ºC, or 13ºC if employees are doing physical work. But there’s no guidance for a maximum temperature limit.

According to health and safety at work law, employers must keep the temperature at a comfortable level, as well as provide clean, fresh air.

The regulatory requirements for workplace temperatures are set by the Workplace (Health, Safety, and Welfare) Regulations 1992.

If you are having problems with the heating at work, it is advised that you speak with your management, union rep, or employee rep about potentially taking action, such as getting your employer to insulate pipes and include assessments of thermal risk as part of workplace risk assessments.

If you’re still facing problems, you can write to your local environmental health officer or the Health and Safety Executive. You will need to find your area first and go through your local council’s website.