DGUV Regel 115-401e - Office businesses sector

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Abschnitt 3.7 - 3.7 Communal rooms

Suitably designed break rooms and functionally furnished office kitchens reflect the esteem in which you hold your employees. They also facilitate communication. In order to prevent health hazards, such as scalding or infections, from arising in these areas, certain rules must be observed.

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ccc_3658_01.jpgStatutory references
  • Sections 3 to 4 of the German Ordinance on Workplaces (ArbStättV) in conjunction with the Annex, Requirements and measures for workplaces in accordance with Section 3 (1) Nos 1 to 4

  • ASR V3 a.2 technical rules for workplaces, accessible design of workplaces

  • ASR A1.5/1,2 technical rules for workplaces, floors

  • ASR A4.1 technical rules for workplaces, sanitary areas

  • ASR A4.2 technical rules for workplaces, break and stand-by rooms

  • DGUV Regulations 3 and 4, electrical installations and equipment (formerly BGV A3 and GUV-V A3)

ccc_3658_26.jpgHazards

The following hazards to your employees may exist in communal rooms:

  • Electric shock, caused for example by defective power cables or casings, operation of electrical equipment in wet areas

  • Slipping, tripping and falling, for example on wet floors

  • Poor hygiene (for example in sanitary and kitchen areas)

  • Scalding caused for example by tipping of or contact with coffee machines and kettles

  • Fire hazards caused by electrical equipment (such as hotplates)

  • Mental stress caused by noise (for example emanating from equipment and external ambient noise in break rooms)

  • Unfavourable environmental factors (such as temperature, ventilation and lighting)

ccc_3658_27.jpgMeasures
  • Ensure that all electrical equipment is tested at the specified intervals by a skilled electrician or under the instruction and supervision of a skilled electrician. Instruct your employees to check the power leads and casings of the equipment visually at regular intervals for evident damage.

Note that the electrical safety of mains equipment brought to work by the employees, such as coffee machines, fans and radios, must also be checked regularly.
  • Ensure that socket circuits, particularly in kitchens and sanitary areas, are protected by a residual-current device (30 mA).

  • Place coffee machines and kettles on a fireproof surface (e.g. tiles). Ensure that the equipment cannot tip over and is an adequate distance away from basins and sinks.

ccc_3658_23.jpg A separate circuit for electrical appliances posing a fire risk (such as cookers, coffee machines, kettles) enables them to be switched on and off separately from all other electrical appliances, for example by means of a timer. As the employer, you are responsible for having such a circuit installed by a skilled electrician.

  • Keep circulation routes free of collision and tripping hazards. Provide circulation routes of adequate width (see Chapter 3.3.1) and ensure that materials (such as cleaning agents) or work equipment are not left on circulation routes.

  • Have floors and walls in sanitary areas and kitchens finished in materials that can be wet wiped (such as ceramic tiles, plastics).

  • Use floor coverings that are slip-resistant even when wet (slip resistance: R9 for toilet areas, R10 for sanitary areas and office kitchens).

  • The cleaning work in the communal areas of your company should not be obstructed by furnishings if this can possibly be avoided.

  • Ensure a rated illuminance of at least 200 lux in office kitchens, break rooms and sanitary areas.

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Figure 30 Example signage of sanitary areas

Sanitary areas

  • Provide separate toilet areas for men and women. Should your company have fewer than ten employees, separate toilet areas for men and women are not required provided it can be assured that the areas are not used by both sexes simultaneously.

  • Provide an adequate number of toilets and washbasins for your employees and visitors (see Table 11).

  • When planning office areas, ensure that toilets are in the same building and are not more than one storey removed from permanent workplaces.

  • Ensure that facilities are provided for washing hands under running water. Provide suitable products in toilet areas for cleaning and drying hands (such as soap in soap dispensers, disposable towels or roller towel machines).

  • Ensure that the toilet areas are properly ventilated.

Table 11 Excerpt from ASR A4.1, sanitary areas

Male or female employeesMinimum number when rarely used at the same timeMinimum number when often used at the same time
Toilets/urinalsWashbasinsToilets/urinalsWashbasins
to 51*)121
6 to 101*)131
11 to 252142
26 to 503162
51 to 755273
76 to 1006293
101 to 13073114
131 to 16083134
161 to 19093155
191 to 220104176
221 to 250114197
Per 30
further employees +1
Per 90
further employees +1
Per 30
further employees +2
Per 90
further employees +2
*) One urinal for male employees is recommended in addition

Break areas

A break room is required when your company employs more than ten persons. Break rooms are not required when the offices are free of work-related disturbances (such as the presence of members of the public; telephone calls). Break rooms must satisfy the following requirements:

  • A floor area of at least 1.00 m2 per employee. A break room must have a floor area of at least 6.00 m2. Note that circulation routes and utility areas for further furnishings must be added to these figures.

  • Ensure that tables and seats with backrests are available for your employees.

  • Avoid nuisance caused for example by vibration, dust, vapours or odours.

  • Ensure that during breaks, the average sound pressure level from the equipment and from outdoor ambient noise does not exceed 55 dB(A).

  • Ensure sufficient daylight.

Should you employ pregnant or nursing women, facilities must be provided for them to be able to lie down, rest and nurse their babies at the workplace or in the immediate vicinity.