Space

Every workroom should have sufficient floor area, height and unoccupied space (Regulation 10). The revised ACOP and guidance says that, as a minimum, 11 cubic metres should be allowed per person working in a room, discounting any room height over three metres.

HSE guidance says that the number of people who can work in any room at the same time will depend on the size of the room, the space taken up by furniture, fittings and equipment, and the layout of the room. So 11 cubic metres may not be sufficient if the room is crowded with equipment or furniture.

The guidance suggests that in a typical room with a ceiling height of 2.4 metres, a floor area of 4.6 square metres per person is needed. Where the ceiling is 3 metres high or more, the minimum floor area will be 3.7 square metres.