Developing a Revised Rule on Workplace Temperature Requirements

The German Ordinance on Workplaces calls for a room temperature range conducive to health. This requirement is specified in a revised version of the German rule for Workplaces ASR A3.5 ‘Room Temperature’. The former version of this rule laid down that the indoor air temperature shall not exceed 26°C (79°F). During a hot summer period with outside temperatures above 26°C the indoor air temperature may be higher as an exception. In view of misinterpretation of this former version, the aim was to explain how to deal with a high room temperature during a hot summer period in Germany. In comparison to the former version of this rule the revised version defines the requirements for acceptable higher room temperatures in the case of high outside temperatures using a step model following the principle of the adaptive approach. This paper explains the need for the revision, the development of the revised version and the new rule in detail.