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Indoor climate

A good indoor climate in the workplace helps to prevent discomfort and illness among employees. A good indoor climate is about having good air quality, the right temperature and a good standard of cleaning in the office.

As an employee, you can do a lot to establish a good indoor climate: 

  • Keep the temperature at 20-22 degrees
  • Keep your workplace tidy so that it is easy to access for the cleaners
  • Have a good standard of cleaning
  • Air out the room several times a day.

Branche Fællesskabet Arbejdsmiljø’s (the Danish industry community for health and safety) office provides two industry guidelines with good advice on indoor climate conditions:  Indoor climate in the office (only in Danish) and Noise in the office (only in Danish).

The type of clothing worn and nature of the work determine which temperature feels most comfortable. If your work involves moving a lot, the temperature should be lower than if you sit still to work. 

Good advice to ensure a good temperature in the office:

  • Keep the temperature in the office at typically 20-22 degrees. In principle, the temperature must not fall below 18 degrees or above 25 degrees. However, in the event of a heat wave higher temperatures may have to be accepted. See the section on Good advice in the summer heat. 
  • Use sunscreen before the sun has heated the room,
  • Turn off lights that you do not use as artificial lighting helps to raise the temperature in the office.
  • Set office machines to standby when you are not using them. In this way, you can reduce the heat given off by the machines
  • Arrange office workplaces so that no discomfort occurs due to large hot or cold surfaces. If you experience a thermal bridge from windows/doors, it may be a good idea to move the workplace slightly away from the window/door for a while.

It is a requirement that office machines that are used frequently and that emit heat, dust and gases must be placed in a ventilated room without fixed workplaces. 

Did you know that: the speed and temperature of the air affect how draughts are felt. Draughts are felt when a part of the body cools more in some places than others. Draughts feel uncomfortable, and they can lead to stiffness or tension in the neck, which causes headaches. 

Did you know that: leaky doors and windows as well as ventilation and ventilation systems can cause uncomfortable draughts. However, it is often mechanical ventilation that is to blame for annoying draughts. You cannot handle these problems yourself, and you should contact your Health and Safety Group or manager who can ask for help from Technical Services.

Read the Danish Working Environment Authority's guide onTemperatures in workspaces in fixed workplaces  (only in Danish).

Many employees working in the same room affects the air quality, but dust in the office, gases and vapours from furniture and office machines as well as pollutants they emit also come into play. Poor air quality in the office can cause headaches and affect the ability to concentrate. Therefore, it is important that fresh air comes into the office, for example through natural ventilation through doors, windows and vent valves. 

Air quality is also affected by pollution that comes in from outside. If the office is close to a busy road, it is best to ventilate the office when the worst traffic is over and if possible ventilate from the side that faces away from the busy road.

Some rooms are equipped with mechanical ventilation, with which it is either possible to regulate the air change yourself, or where the air change takes place automatically. Get an introduction to the use of mechanical ventilation so that it is used correctly. If you experience discomfort, such as downdraughts or draughts, contact Technical Services at 8888@sdu.dk for help.

How to ensure good air quality in the office:

  • air the room frequently, e.g. when you are at meetings or at lunch – but without it getting too cold in the office if there is no mechanical ventilation
  • maintain buildings and furniture so that the dust cannot accumulate, e.g. in worn floors
  • have a smoking policy in writing and ensure that it is complied with
  • generally place office machines in separate and well-ventilated rooms without fixed workplaces
  • store large quantities of freshly printed material in a ventilated, unoccupied room
  • avoid using air purifiers
  • use your temperature and ventilation system correctly if you can regulate it yourself or contact Technical Services at 8888@sdu.dk for help.

A good cleaning standard is essential for a good indoor climate. Technical Services has described how cleaning is done at SDU. 

How to ensure a good cleaning standard:

  • clean the office regularly, including screens, keyboards, phones, etc.
  • Tell your manager or health and safety group if cleaning is inadequate
  • tidy up your own desk and shelving so that the cleaning staff have access
  • clean up around the workplace – in this way, dust is reduced
  • avoid piles of paper – they make a mess and collect dust
  • avoid over-furnishing the office – it gathers dust
  • dry your feet on the mat before entering to avoid bringing in dust
  • gather cables in a cable rail – it facilitates cleaning.

Static electricity occurs when charged particles are transferred from one body to another . When the charged person releases the charge by touching conductive objects such as door handles, radiators and electrical equipment, it can give an unpleasant shock. 

Static electricity depends on the combination and type of flooring, upholstery and shoe soles. It is particularly in the winter that you can experience discomfort from static electricity as the lower humidity leads to a greater charge in the individual. 

How to limit static electricity:

  • wear clothes made of natural products – avoid clothes made of plastic
  • change clothes or shoes if you often get shocks
  • put a piece of fabric (not synthetic) on the office chair
  • place an antistatic pad under the office chair
  • apply moisturiser to hands if you have dry skin
  • keep the temperature at 20-22 degrees
  • use a metal object, e.g. a key, to strike the places where shocks may occur, e.g. door handles, then the shock will not be felt
  • open the door with the heel of the hand or the elbow – the fingers are more sensitive and more vulnerable to shocks.

Noise and poor acoustics can be annoying and can cause fatigue and concentration difficulties. The determining criteria for when sound is perceived as noise is subjective. The acoustics of the office are of great importance for the noise level and for how each individual experiences noise. 

How to reduce noise level:

  • turn down the phone ringtone and be sure to switch off the phone when you are away
  • use vibration or light alerts instead of the regular ringtone if possible
  • show consideration for colleagues who need quiet for their work tasks – avoid being noisy when talking on the phone or with others
  • go over to the colleague you want to talk to rather than talking across the room
  • avoid listening to the radio or music if it bothers your colleague – use a closed head-set instead
  • talk to each other in the office about how to ensure a good conversation culture, and speak up if noise from other people’s behaviour bothers you
  • report noisy technical installations by contacting the health and safety group or manager, who can contact Technical Services at 8888@sdu.dk.
  • Use an exterior sunblind if possible. Indoor sun protection is not as effective against heat buildup, but it is better than no protection at all.
  • Roll the sunblinds down before there is direct sunlight. If the windows face east, this should be done in the afternoon before going home. Half of the heat comes in before 8 o’clock in the morning.
  • Likewise, draw the blinds in the offices of colleagues who are on holiday. This will help to keep the general building heat down.
  • Find out if colleagues can borrow each other's offices during holiday absences so that you get more hours on the shaded side of the building.
  • Air out efficiently in the morning while it is still cool outside.
  • During a heat wave, employees who do sedentary work should take an appropriate number of breaks if the temperature is 35°C and the humidity is 40-60 per cent. The breaks should be held in rooms with lower temperatures or outdoors.

Last Updated 07.07.2022