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lynda o'driscoll
Member - 1 post
I am planning the layout of a new office and I need to know what is the legal requirement regarding leaving space between desks. What I mean is the distance from one desk to the one behind it so the people at the desks will have their backs to each other and a walkway in between. I also need to know if the is a minimum regulation distance for the spcae from a desk along a wall to a door on that wall.
I hope this makes sense and thanks for any help.
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Kevin Brown
Member - 76 posts
A good rule of thumb is to allow 1 metre from the leading edge of each opposing desk i.e. a two metre separation. Even with both desks occupied there is still enough room for people to get past without causing distraction.
I think you will struggle to find an absolute distance but you need to bear in mind you have to provide viable means of escape. When planning space you need to consider providing 'primary' circulation space, such as central aisles, unobstructed routes to doorways as well as 'secondary' circulation space, such as aisles between rows of desks. Desks/chairs should not be positioned where there is an increased risk of collision with colleagues using doors etc.
In calculating maximum occupancy the EU regs stipulate a minimum of 11.1 cubic metres per person. As that is based on an assumed ceiling height of 3 metres the actual area comes out at 3.7 square metres, equivalent to 40 square feet per person. It's not a lot of space, and most employers (mine amongst them) provide considerably more, in our case it's 10 square metres. Sounds generous but it includes all common parts, break out areas, office equipment etc.
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David Wooldridge
Member - 13 posts
Having done thousands of major desk layouts for a major bank nearly 20 years, & for reasons of Fire , & general Health & Safety, I was previously advised to ensure minimum of 800mm gap between desks, or if in a 'Fire ' walkway , a minimum of 1000, or 1200mm if possible.
In cases where occupants sit back to back, there should be a minimum of 800mm allowance between the opposing chairs when the persons are not pulled into the desk.
If, for example there is a person sat behind a desk with a wall at the back & side, then the minimum can come down to 600mm, as no-one else needs to come through the space.
Practically, of course, if you have the room to spread out a little then it's obviously good, but you also need to give consideration to any DDA requirements, which then alter things again & probably bring in 900mm minimum gap requirements.
There are many different parameters & criteria which may effect the final layout, but individual business requirements & practices or processes may also dictate dimensional allowances.
Because people are also different in physical size etc, other allowances should be taken into consideration, so sometimes 'common sense' has a role to play.
Another rule of thumb used to be to try & give everyone 100sq. ft., but that did include desk, chair, storage, filing etc.
However, the 800mm minimum between desks, in my experience proved practical & satisfactory for most applications, other than 'Fire Escvape Routes & corridors etc.
Good luck with your drawing layouts.
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Alan Cox - First for Fire & Safety
Online advisor - 45 posts
I usually find the easiest way is to first design your escape routes for the projected occupancy and delineate these, if possible with different coloured carpet tiles. Your escape routes are probably the most important factor because I have seen a couple of instances where companies have worked on the total floor area only and when I have carried out an occupancy calculation the escape routes were not wide enough and in one instance they had to install a new external fire escape - obviously the company was not very pleased with this result.
Once you have your escape routes and circulation spaces you are then free to design your working area to comply with the space requirements subject to not having large "dead end" travel distances.
Delineating escape routes is also very important as when companies expand they always want to expand into escape routes and circulation spaces because this is seen as the easiest option.
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Phil Martin
Member - 3 posts
The following free downloads may help with fire safety:
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/151543.pdf
http://www.communities.gov.uk/documents/fire/pdf/322721.pdf
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_App_Doc_B_v2.pdf
http://www.planningportal.gov.uk/uploads/br/BR_PDF_ADM_2004.pdf
The first two give general advice and the second two are to do with building regulations.
Phil
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