We discuss 5 important tips for getting your office temperature right!
“Too hot”, “too cold”, “there’s a draft”. Complaints within an office about air conditioning and heating temperatures are all too common. Constant exposure to uncomfortable temperatures, humidity or drafts can create an uncomfortable environment, reducing productivity and in extreme cases can lead to illness.
Most employers know that this is a serious matter, as under the Occupational Health and Safety Act 2004, the employer and person who controls the heating and cooling temperatures has a duty of care to monitor the conditions and provide a working environment that has no risks to employee health.
In most cases, the office temperature should stay consistently at 21-22 degrees Celsius. This allows for comfort and productivity.
However, maintaining this temperature can be difficult. We give you five tips on getting your office temperature right.
- Prevent drafts from entering the building
It is important to prevent too much air from coming into the building. Gaps under doors are a common culprit, draught excluders should be fitted to prevent this. The front entrance or other busy entrances/exits should have a set of two doors to be opened before the main working area is entered, to prevent workers from exposure to the weather conditions. If doors are used often and likely to be left open, it may be worth investing in automatic sliding doors.
- Prevent excessive amounts of air from leaving the building
There is a requirement for a HVAC system to introduce a percentage of conditioned fresh air into the space and also have allowance for removing an equivalent percentage. Nortan offers this facility with heat recovery technology to avoid pumping conditioned air out of the building, however, if warm/cold air is finding a way out by any other means, your heating/cooling will have to work harder to maintain a consistent temperature, costing you more! Old windows are often a culprit. If the seals are worn it will allow the heat to escape. If you’re really serious, invest in double glazed glass – this is basically a second layer of insulation, as the sealed layer between the two panes adds additional protection.
- Manage surfaces which radiate heat
Another common problem that offices face is keeping the heat out from windows. Many offices have large windows to provide natural light and create a pleasant working environment for employees. Prevent your office from turning into a hot oven with blinds – if possible invest in external roll-down blinds for the best results.
- Choose the right system for your needs
Many medium and large offices will find ducted air conditioning suits their needs. Ducted air conditioning is quieter than a split system, and can reach more areas through strategic placement of ducts. Most systems have zoning options, allowing for different temperatures in different rooms.
- Ensure your system is operating efficiently
To get the most out of a ducted air conditioning system, it is worth ensuring that all ducts remain unblocked, and that no large furniture is directly inhibiting airflow. Another common mistake is to close over a vent in an unused room by adjusting the louvers. For many systems, this increases the pressure that the air conditioner blower has to work against, which results in higher running costs. If unsure, check with an air conditioning expert.
To arrange a consultation with a heating and cooling expert, contact Nortan. Nortan supply, service and repair heating and cooling systems throughout many of Melbourne’s offices and commercial properties. Through our experience with a variety of heating and cooling systems, we can ensure your workplace is a comfortable environment through maximising the potential of your current system, or providing a more suitable solution where necessary.
