Broken Air-con

Dr.Bunson

I work in a wonderful office block in Dublin 1, the air-con in the office in broken, the windows don't open and it is extremely hot. I have a few questions that I hope you can help me with.

What obligations do my employer have to sort the situation?

Is there a max acceptable temperature? (I remember in school there was a minimum, if it fell below 16 we could go home).

Where can I buy a small desk fan?

Thanks everybody.

petes

I don't have air con.

max temp is 23 afaik

godtabh

coolsmileygirl wrote:

max temp is 23 afaik

I sould have left work early on Friday. It was 24.5 in here.

Mind you I cant see my boss letting me go early cause its two warm

Anti

I think CSG is right. Anything over 23c is deemed unacceptable and detrimental to your health. But im not sure. Ill have a look now.

*EDIT*

Here ya go:

http://www.niso.ie/faq/workplaceconditions.htm

Winters

Just be happy none of the ugly ladies in your workplace arn't getting nakkid in the hot office.....

John Mason

just reading anti's link there - last summer we had no working toilets (over 200 working in the office) and had to go out the building and across the road to another building who allowed us to use their facilities - i CANT BELIEVE I DIDNT HAVE TO WORK ALL LAST SUMMER AND WHAT THE HELL WERE OUR UNION REPS DOING

sorry now, rant over, all calm

trout

Sorry guys ... max temp isn't 23 ... in fact, there is no max temp.

An upper limit of 27 is recommended ... linkeh for details.

http://www.hsa.ie/publisher/index.jsp?&1nID=93&nID=97&aID=1517#temperature

There is no maximum temperature stated under the regulations but as a guideline a minimum comfortable working temperature for indoor sedentary workers is 17.5 degrees centigrade and upper level for comfort is 27 degrees centigrade (when undertaking light duties). In extremely hot weather conditions, measures such as for example, the provisions of fans, provision of cold water dispensers and regular water breaks for staff, the relaxation of formal dress codes, the introduction of flexible working patterns etc., can assist in maintaining comfortable working conditions.

http://www.hsa.ie/publisher/index.jsp?&1nID=93&nID=97&aID=1517

You think thats bad? Where I work the air con is broken. We took a temperature reading - 32+ degrees celcius. Some people from work started vomiting due to the heat. This was the way it was all weekend. They had to cancel movies because it would have been so unhealthy for customers to sit in there.

Borzoi

Cross posting

http://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=2055105378

Bad, bad Dr Bunson:(

Anti

trout wrote:

Sorry guys ... max temp isn't 23 ... in fact, there is no max temp.

An upper limit of 27 is recommended ... linkeh for details.

http://www.hsa.ie/publisher/index.jsp?&1nID=93&nID=97&aID=1517#temperature

There is no maximum temperature stated under the regulations but as a guideline a minimum comfortable working temperature for indoor sedentary workers is 17.5 degrees centigrade and upper level for comfort is 27 degrees centigrade (when undertaking light duties). In extremely hot weather conditions, measures such as for example, the provisions of fans, provision of cold water dispensers and regular water breaks for staff, the relaxation of formal dress codes, the introduction of flexible working patterns etc., can assist in maintaining comfortable working conditions.

http://www.hsa.ie/publisher/index.jsp?&1nID=93&nID=97&aID=1517

Well done. Thats exactally what my link said. Fair play.

Gran Hermano

My understanding of the legislation on workplace temperatures is that
whilst there is a lower limit at which you can refuse to work, there is
no upper limit.

mikemac

Look at the bright side-you'll be loosing weight in no time

lostexpectation

Anti wrote:

Well done. Thats exactally what my link said. Fair play.

it also says in that link if you have aircon it must be working order!

trout

Anti wrote:

Well done. Thats exactally what my link said. Fair play.

You linked to a voluntary organisation (NISO) who offer guidance and training, for a fee. I linked to the HSA, a statutory body with responsibility for the admin and enforcement of Health & Safety compliance in the workplace. Slight difference. Given the official status of the HSA, that's the site I'd trust more.

The NISO text looks like it's lifted from the HSA site, so yeah ... there are overlaps.
Regardless, I mostly wanted to correct the 23 degrees misconception.

you have a nice day now.

sioda

Trust me on this as a person who worked in a building comprised mainly of glass there is no legislation about the temperature just a suggested max temp.

Finally have our fixed but op i know your pain.

Try getting a few cans of cool spray from a pharmacy

the_syco

Arnotts downstairs sell wicked fans @ about €30, but I'd advise you getting one with a stand, as a small one to near the monitor on the desk causes "ripples" on the screen, which fooks up your eyes.

BostonB

Our office varies between 26 and 30 with the AC on. Personally I find anything above 26 very hot and its much harder to work. Though I think its the humidity rather than just the heat thats the problem.

Wishbone Ash

sioda wrote:

Trust me on this as a person who worked in a building comprised mainly of glass there is no legislation about the temperature just a suggested max temp.

Yup, it was 40 degrees in the agricultural glasshouses in my area last week!