During the summer months some very high air temperatures have been reached making it a very uncomfortable experience for those working without office air conditioning. In a perfect world an ideal office air conditioning temperature would make the environment comfortable and productive for workers who are in offices, shops and other indoor places of work.
For those workers who do not have the luxury of working in an optimum office air conditioning temperature, it may be a question of “sweating it out” as there is no set maximum temperature laid down by any health and safety executive whereby an employee can stop working. The statement now says that during working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be reasonable. Not much comfort to those working in stifling office buildings. The interpretation of reasonable is variable as the expected temperatures in a kitchen will always be higher than those in a dental surgery, retail space or office.
Employers are not under any obligation to supply air conditioning, but those who value productivity and normal working will make an effort to keep an office air conditioning temperature standard during exceptional weather periods even if they hire portable units. While obliged to provide fresh drinking water, there is no requirement that it should be chilled for employees. When the heat is on it may be worthwhile for employers to consider the effects on high temperatures in workplaces.
Considering employees are performing tasks for 8 hours a day or more, oppressive heat reduces productivity immensely. When employees are sweating, suffering with swollen ankles and are unable to focus on the job in hand it is time to cool them down. Office air temperature is one of the single most causes of productivity drops. Studies show that the optimum office temperature is between 21 to 23 degrees Celsius although other studies show up to 25 degrees Celsius is optimal. After their own study, the UK government believe that 23 degrees Celsius is the perfect temperature. The recommended office air conditioning temperature should satisfy 70 to 80% of the work force.
This simple table shows how productivity increases or decreases with temperature variances:
As the temperature increases:
- 77 degrees F = 98% productive
- 82 degrees F = 95%
- 87 degrees F = 90%
- 92 degrees F = 85%
As temperature decreases
- At 66 degrees = 98% productive
- 63 degrees F = 95%
- 59 degrees F = 90%
It is not as simple as deciding on an office air conditioning temperature and sticking to it, there are seasonal variations that will cause people to react differently to the ambient temperature. Even within a set temperature, there will be vast differences with how the atmosphere is perceived.
Time of Year
Expectations are adjusted to expect coolness in winter and warmer in summer therefore an individual can be happy with a cooler temperature in the office in winter and slightly warmer in summer.
Clothes
Clothing affects comfort and people arriving at an office in thick over coats with heavyweight day clothing in winter will need an overall cooler temperature from the air conditioning to be comfortable. In summer people will wear lightweight, thinner clothing so the opposite will be so.
Weight and Age
An individual’s BMI will affect how office air conditioning feels to them; thinner older people will feel the cold more easily while a higher BMI will keep a person warmer due to extra body fat.
Humidity
Humidity with high temperatures is much more difficult to deal with as the body cannot evaporate sweat and there is a feeling of heaviness and sluggishness. Without humidity, high temperatures are far easier to bear. Any office air conditioning will keep a relative humidity level that will keep workers in comfort. The same air temperature can feel twice as hot with very high humidity.
Worker productivity is affected by the environment. By maintaining a comfortable temperature and humidity level workers will continue to have high productivity levels and avoid sick days. It takes a commitment from office and business owners to ensure the wellbeing of their workers and in the long run is more than worth it.
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