Is there a legal classroom temperature?

With many years of  designing and installing air conditioning in schools and classroom air conditioning, EOC Services, are often asked:

• What temperature should a classroom be in the UK?
• How cold can a classroom legally be in the UK?
• How ‘hot’ is too hot for school?

With a myriad of information available, school leaders’ can often become perplexed with what is the minimum classroom temperature and what is the maximum temperature for a classroom.

Information is available at many sites and EOC Services would start in the direction of the Health and Safety Executive. Other organisations such as edapt and NASUWT provide clear and concise on classroom temperature and the minimum classroom temperature.

Is there a legal classroom temperature?

Essentially, regulations place an overriding duty on employers to make workplaces suitable for the individuals who work in them. Although the law does not specify minimum temperatures, the minimum temperature in classrooms should be 16°C and 13°C in areas involving rigorous physical effort. Employers must also avoid excessive temperatures. There are currently no regulations on maximum temperatures in classrooms but sustained temperatures above 27°C should be considered unacceptable.

The World Health Organization recommends 24°C as a maximum temperature for comfortable working.

How can you manage classroom temperature for the 'thermal comfort' of your children and staff?

Thermal comfort describes a person's state of mind in terms of whether they feel too hot or too cold. How you manage the effects of the temperature of your classroom depends on the normal operating temperature of that environment.

Classroom Temperature

You should provide:

• a reasonable working temperature in workrooms – usually at least 16°C, or 13°C for strenuous work (unless other laws require lower temperatures)
• local heating or cooling (ie making best use of fans, opening windows, using radiators) where a comfortable temperature cannot be maintained throughout each classroom
• clothing 
• heating systems which do not give off dangerous or offensive levels of fume into the classroom
• sufficient space in classrooms

When classroom temperatures are too hot

You can help ensure thermal comfort in warm conditions by:

• providing fans, eg desk, pedestal or ceiling-mounted fans
• ensuring that windows can be opened
• shading children and staff from direct sunlight with blinds or by using reflective film on windows to reduce the heating effects of the sun
• sitting desks away from direct sunlight or other situations or objects that that radiate heat (eg plant or machinery)
• relaxing formal dress code 
• allowing sufficient breaks to enable children and staff to get cold drinks or cool down
• providing additional facilities, eg cold water dispensers (water is preferable to caffeine or carbonated drinks)
• introducing formal systems of teaching to limit exposure, eg flexible learning patterns
• placing insulating materials around hot plant and pipes
• providing air-cooling or air-conditioning plant

When classrooms temperatures are too cold

You can help ensure thermal comfort when working in the cold by:

• providing adequate classroom heating, eg portable heaters
• reducing cold exposure by designing processes that minimise exposure to cold areas and cold products where possible
• reducing draughts
• providing insulating floor coverings
• clothing
• introducing formal systems of teaching to limit exposure, eg flexible learning patterns
• providing sufficient breaks to enable children and staff to get hot drinks or to warm up in heated areas

Very high or low classroom temperatures

You may require specific advice for your school if you are working in very high or low temperatures, for example on heat stress, dehydration or cold stress.

If thermal discomfort is a risk, and your children or staff are complaining and/or reporting illnesses that may be caused by the thermal environment, then you should review the situation and if necessary implement appropriate controls to manage the risks:

• the thermal conditions may need to be monitored and where possible recorded as part of your risk management programme
• health surveillance or medical screening may be required for staff who have special requirements due to pregnancy, certain illnesses, disabilities and/or maybe taking medication. This is particularly relevant when working in temperature extremes. Medical advice should be sought if necessary
• teaching patterns and current practices need to be reviewed periodically and (where necessary) changed, to control the risks

EOC services are able to assist, through many years of installing air conditioning in schools and classroom air conditioning means we have a complete understanding of the school environment to find and recommend the most cost effective solutions to classroom temperatures.  With a range of off the shelf and bespoke solutions, EOC Services are able to design a cost solution to managing classroom temperature and providing a perfect teaching environment.

EOC services are able to provide:

• Cost effective air conditioning solutions for all school areas
• Latest energy efficient heating, cooling and ventilation systems which save money on energy running costs.
• Peace of mind solutions which meet the latest DfE specifications.
• A range of tailored financial solutions of either buying or spreading the cost of the purchase over a period of time meaning we are able to meet most budgets.
• Industry beating fully comprehensive 7 years parts and labour warranty providing total peace of mind and allowing you to concentrate on more important matters – ‘educating children’.

We understand that your project must be delivered on time, to budget and to the highest quality standards; especially when poor teaching environments impact upon learning outcomes, staff motivation and present the wrong image to the community.  EOC services bespoke design capabilities and flexibility allow us to scale our services to best suit the needs of air conditioning in your school and classroom air conditioning.

With a range of cost effective solutions available, book your no-obligation survey today.