Heating and Comfort Policy
Reviewed April 2014
1. INTRODUCTION
The University of Worcester endeavours to maintain a comfort temperature of between 19 o
and 23oC throughout all academic, office and residential areas.
There is a certain amount of difficulty in satisfying everyone’s comfort needs all of the time, so
your co-operation and tolerance on this matter is greatly appreciated.
If you do experience continued periods of uncomfortable office temperatures (below 19oC or
over 28oC), please report to the Facilities Department https://eris.worc.ac.uk/customerportal/
Some variations in temperature will be unavoidable due to the age and fabric of some of the
campus infrastructure. Staff and students should bear this in mind when evaluating their
feeling of comfort when moving around the University.
2. HEATING PERIODS
The University provides heating from the 1st October to 30th April. These dates may be
amended if the weather is unseasonal. Campus users can normally expect optimised
temperatures of 19 - 23°C, where possible boiler plant activation is based on outside air
temperature to improve comfort. Optimised temperature hours are as follows:
Office Areas
Teaching Areas
Pierson Study Facility
Arena
Residential
08:00 – 17:30
09:00 – 21:00
24hrs
08:00 – 22:00
Buildings will be heated from 7:00 to 23:00 however,
heating will be switched off for an hour every two hours it is
operating to conserve energy. This will not affect the
comfort of residents in halls.
The Estates & Facilities team is responsible for the management and control of Heating
Systems.
3. DOMESTIC HOT WATER
The University provides Hot Water throughout the year according to the following time
schedules:
Office & Teaching areas
Residential Areas
Pierson Study Facility
Arena
07:30 – 21:00
06:00 – 23:00
24hrs
08:00 – 22:00
Many flats have electrically heated showers which provide hot water on demand. These flats
will be made available for students who need to rise early for their course.
4. SUMMER CONDITIONS (01 May – 01 October)
As a general rule, the University does not control temperature, as the environmental and
financial consequences of doing so are unfavourable. Room occupants are therefore asked
to cope with any high summertime temperatures by opening windows and using the curtains
or blinds that are provided.
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The University will consider the use of either mechanical or refrigerant air-conditioning in
places where:

Natural ventilation is insufficient for oxygen replenishment and air movement

Ventilation is required to remove stale, hot or noxious fumes

Room processes require close temperature control

The combined effects of the heat input from people, lights, machinery and solar gain
cause the room temperature to consistently rise above 28oC and where all other
options have been exploited (this is typically if the heat load exceeds 40W/m 2)
If members of staff require cooling, this must be financed by bidding for cooling as part of the
annual budgeting process but as a general rule please note the university does not provide air
conditioning except for example in data rooms.
5. HOW YOU CAN HELP TO SAVE ENERGY AND STAY COMFORTABLE ALL
YEAR ROUND
There are several measures that staff and students can take to limit the extremes of
temperature and help to save energy:

Dress appropriately for the weather; keep a jumper in your office during the winter
months in case it gets chilly

Drink hot or cold drinks depending on the conditions

Only open windows when your workplace is stuffy, or if your heaters are off and you
need to cool the rooms down

Make use of window blinds and curtains in hot weather to reduce solar gain

Make use of flexible work times where appropriate to avoids extremes of temperature

Take regular breaks and don’t stay in a sedentary position throughout the day

Don’t block radiators or coolers with absorbent furniture

Switch off unnecessary electrical equipment and lighting, particularly in summer as
these can contribute significantly to heat gain

In times of high temperatures, ensure that doors and windows are open to increase
the natural air flow

Turn down the thermostat if the room is too warm and refrain from opening windows.
6. USE OF PERSONAL EQUIPMENT
Desk fans and heaters may be used providing that they have been PAT tested. For more
information, contact the Maintenance Team at
https://eris.worc.ac.uk/customerportal/
7. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES
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The University is sympathetic to international students and people with disabilities and is
prepared to consider temporary individual specific requirements outside the scope of this
guidance. A Cooling Policy is attached at Appendix A.
KB April 2014
APPENDIX A
COOLING POLICY
1. As a general rule the University will not fund the installation and running costs of airconditioning systems unless they are required:

By regulation or enforceable code of practice

By specific items of equipment such as server rooms

Because natural ventilation is insufficient to remove heat gains and/or provide the
necessary changes of air

Because occupants and/or equipment consistently raise the ambient temperature to
above 28oC for a minimum period of two hours.
2. Air-conditioning will not be installed in any residential building with the exception of office
areas in such buildings, providing they meet the installation criteria.
3. Where areas are overheating, a thorough appraisal will be carried out to ensure that all
alternative options have been considered before air-conditioning is installed. These will
include:

Ensuring any heating is not operating in the area and hot pipes are insulated

Providing window blinds and/or desk or ceiling fans

Installing window film and/or solar shading devices

Managing the use of heat-producing equipment to reduce heat gains
4. The use of mechanical ventilation is preferred to full air-conditioning. If it is deemed that
cooling requires to be installed then the users and the Director of Physical Resources will
need to agree on the cooling strategy before detailed design begins. All installed cooling
equipment should:

Be as energy-efficient as possible

Interface with the building energy management system, and

Contain refrigerant gases that have zero ozone depletion potential
5. Where air-conditioning is already installed, the space temperature should be set no lower
that 23oC and the system set to provide cooling only when the space is occupied. All doors
and windows of the conditioned space should remain closed and no portable heaters should
be in operation to warm up an over-cooled space.
6. Portable air-conditioning units are not permitted for use in the University buildings unless
they are installed with a permanent extract duct. Desk fans may be used provided that they
have been PAT tested.
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