In view of an impending gas shortage, there are hardly any bans on thinking in politics and business. The head of the DIHK, Adrian, wants to abolish the rigid minimum temperatures at workplaces. Since every degree counts, more flexible rules should be found. Politics is required.
In view of the gas crisis, the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry has spoken out in favor of reducing the minimum temperatures prescribed in offices and workshops. DIHK President Peter Adrian said: “Every degree counts. In my warehouse I have to guarantee either 17 or 19 degrees, depending on the extent to which people occasionally work there. That might be possible with a little less.” You could also turn down the heating slightly in offices. “Then you might have to dress a little warmer.”
A spokeswoman for the Federal Ministry of Labor said that the department, in coordination with the lead Ministry of Economic Affairs, is examining possible solutions as to how, in the event of a gas emergency, constraints to save heating energy could be reconciled with the requirements for employee health protection. A gas emergency would have a significant impact on the safeguarding of production processes and the heating of workplaces.
Adrian advocated re-evaluating a large number of regulations. “This also includes regulations to heat workshops, offices and even warehouses to certain temperatures. The workplace ordinance prescribes the values, even if the people who work there want to get by with less.” Minimum temperatures in work rooms are regulated in a technical rule for workplaces. Accordingly, the minimum values ????of the air temperature are between 12 and 20 degrees, depending on the severity of the work. The 12 degrees apply to heavy physical work. Values ??of 17 to 20 degrees apply for less heavy work. In break, standby, sanitary, canteen and first-aid rooms, the temperature must be at least 21 degrees during the period of use.
