Indoor temperature limits of buildings (heating, air conditioning)

Verified 11 September 2024 - Directorate for Legal and Administrative Information (Prime Minister)

The rules shall lay down heating temperature limits buildings, and cooling temperature limits (air conditioning). Specific provisions are laid down for certain buildings housing scientific, sporting, craft, industrial, commercial, agricultural or medical activities. We're presenting the regulations.

General regulations

In premises, in particular for teaching, office or public use, upper heating temperature limits are, during periods of occupation, fixed on average at 19°C for all premises used for purposes other than the dwelling included in the same building.

Example :

A building of 100 m² including 30 m² rooms are heated to 20°C and 70 m² rooms are heated to 18°C respects the limit of 19°C maximum on average.

During periods ofnon-occupancy of these premises for a period of between 24 and 48 consecutive hours, the upper limits of the average heating temperature for all the business premises included in the same building shall be fixed at 16° C.

During periods ofunoccupied premises of 48 consecutive hours or more, those limits shall be set at 8°C.

Premises where scientific, sports, craft, industrial, commercial or agricultural activities are carried out

Temperature limits are different in certain premises where activities of an administrative, scientific, sporting, craft, industrial, commercial or agricultural nature are carried out.

Temperature limits depend on the activity:

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Scientist

In premises used for scientific research where heating is used mainly for reasons unrelated to the health and hygiene of staff (e.g. culture temperature of living organisms, etc.), the heating limit temperature shall be determined in each case by the head of the establishment, on the basis of scientific needs.

In other premises of a scientific nature, the general rules shall apply (19°C during periods of occupation).

Athlete

Swimming pool

In the swimming pools, during periods of activity, the limit air heating temperature is set at:

  • 27°C in the lobbies of pools
  • 23°C in the annexes, including changing rooms and showers

In the period ofvacancy, the heating limit temperature of the entire building is fixed at:

  • 16°C when the period of vacancy or non-activity is between 24 and 48 hours
  • 8°C when the period of vacancy or inactivity is equal to or greater than 48 hours.
Ice rink

In the ice rinks, during periods of activity, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 12°C in the stands and in the practice areas (on the ice)
  • 20°C in the annexes, including changing rooms and showers

In the period ofvacancy, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 16°C in the Annexes, where the period of vacancy or non-activity is between 24 and 48 hours
  • 8°C throughout the rink, when the period of vacancy or non-activity is equal to or greater than 48 hours.
Other sports premises

In the sports premises (excluding swimming pools and ice rinks), the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 18°C in rooms where corrective gymnastics is practiced
  • 15°C in rooms where ground gymnastics is practiced
  • 14°C in other sports facilities. Examples: basketball, handball, climbing rooms, etc.
  • 20°C in the annexes, including changing rooms and showers

In the period ofvacancy, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 16°C in the annexes and in rooms where corrective gymnastics is practiced, when the period of vacancy or non-activity is between 24 and 48 hours
  • 8°C throughout the building, when the period of vacancy or non-activity is equal to or greater than 48 hours.

Craft or industrial

In rooms where heating is used for reasons unrelated to the health and hygiene of staff, and in particular rooms where heating is necessary for the treatment or preservation of materials or products, the heating limit temperature shall be set in each case by the head of the establishment according to the technical requirements of the activities concerned.

In rooms where non-sedentary work, the heating limit temperature shall be fixed in each case by the prefect, after obtaining the opinion of the labor inspector, and shall be at most equal to 18°C.

In other craft or industrial premises, the general rules apply (19°C during periods of occupation).

In rooms where non-sedentary work, duringvacancy, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 16°C when the period of vacancy or non-activity is between 24 and 48 hours
  • 8°C when the period of vacancy or inactivity is equal to or greater than 48 hours.

Commercial

In rooms where persons are to be stripped naked, and in particular beauty salons, the heating temperature limit is set at 23°C.

In other premises of a commercial nature, the general rules apply (19°C during periods of occupation).

In rooms where persons must be unclothed, during periods ofvacancy, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 16°C when the period of vacancy or non-activity is between 24 and 48 hours
  • 8°C when the period of vacancy or inactivity is equal to or greater than 48 hours.

Agricultural

Livestock buildings

In the livestock buildings, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 18°C in buildings for the rearing of cattle and horses
  • 18°C, which may be up to one time 30°C in maternity zones for pigs
  • 25°C in post-weaning workshops for pigs
  • 16°C in other pig-rearing buildings
  • 22°C in dust (poultry)

In other livestock buildings, the general rules apply (19°C during periods of occupation).

In the livestock buildings, duringvacancy, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 16°C when the period of vacancy or non-activity is between 24 and 48 hours
  • 8°C when the period of vacancy or inactivity is equal to or greater than 48 hours.
Greenhouses

In greenhouses, the heating temperature limit is determined in each case by the head of the establishment according to the needs of the agricultural activity.

Other premises of an agricultural nature

In agricultural premises which are not livestock buildings or greenhouses, the general rules apply (19°C during periods of occupation).

Premises and establishments where medical care is provided

In the premises and establishments where medical care is provided, during periods of activity, the heating limit temperature is set at:

  • 26°C in the high-tech medical premises, including premises:
    • Surgical procedure
    • Obstetric intervention
    • Resuscitation equipment
    • Continuous monitoring
    • Intended for burn victims
    • Neonatology or intended for infants
    • Special isolation devices
    • X-ray diagnostic
  • 24°C in the parts receiving partially or completely naked patients, such as:
    • Consultation rooms
    • Medical Offices
    • Examination rooms, explorations, care rooms, specimens
    • Sanitation and washrooms
  • 22°C on average and not exceeding 24°C, in accommodation or premises where medical care is provided people who are not hospitalized or who are housing older people or young children.

In other premises of a medical nature, the general rules apply (19°C during periods of occupation).

Please note

In rooms where temperature is a means of treatment or investigation, the heating limit temperature shall be fixed by the head of establishment.

In rooms in which a cooling system is settled, it shall not be switched on or kept in operation until the inside temperature of the rooms exceeds 26°C.

Whenever the indoor temperature is below 26°C, the cooling system (air conditioning) shall be switched off.

Please note

That does not apply buildings or parts of buildings where medical care to non-hospitalized persons, hospitals and accommodation, premises and establishments housing or accommodating elderly persons or young children.

It shall also not apply to buildings or parts of buildings which, because of constraints linked to their use (e.g. food preservation), must ensure particular conditions of temperature, humidity or air quality.

The exceeding heating temperature limits buildings east sanctioned by the fine for contraventions of 5e class, of an amount of €1,500 (natural persons) or €7,500 (legal persons).

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