Is it necessary to have daylight in the workplace?
In the realm of German labor law, workplaces are generally required to have windows or access to daylight for the health, safety, and well-being of employees. This is primarily governed by the German Occupational Health and Safety regulations, specifically the Workplace Ordinance (ArbStättV). However, there are specific exceptions and detailed rules concerning underground rooms, side rooms, and older buildings.
General Rule for Workplaces and Daylight Access
Workplaces should ideally be designed to provide adequate natural light. This general rule is in place to promote a healthier and safer work environment. Rooms used as workspaces should, therefore, have windows or other means of daylight access.
Exceptions and Specific Cases
Underground Rooms and Side Rooms
Underground rooms and side rooms can be used only under particular conditions. The Workplace Ordinance allows exceptions if alternative technical measures are implemented that compensate for the lack of natural light, such as sufficient artificial lighting and ventilation. These rooms must meet strict requirements for air quality, lighting, and safety to be considered permissible workplaces.
Such exceptions are usually justified when renovation or architectural constraints make daylight access impossible or impractical. For example, side rooms may include archives, storage rooms, and tea kitchens.
Rooms Built Before 2016
For buildings or rooms constructed before the current revisions (with significant changes implemented around 2016), the standards have been updated to raise requirements for daylight access. However, rooms built before these newer standards came into effect can sometimes be exempt or subject to transitional provisions, meaning they can continue to be used without full compliance until major renovations occur.
Employers must ensure that even in these older rooms, adequate lighting and ventilation conditions are met to protect employees, and alternative provisions are often used to compensate for daylight lack.
Summary
| Aspect | Requirement | Exception/Notes | |------------------------|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------------------------------------------------------| | General workplaces | Must have windows or access to daylight | Based on ArbStättV for health and safety | | Underground rooms | Generally not allowed as workspaces without technical compensations | Artificial lighting and ventilation required | | Side rooms | Allowed if daylight access or compensatory measures (lighting, ventilation) exist | Must meet safety standards | | Rooms built before 2016 | Subject to earlier standards; transitional rules may apply | Existing rooms can be used if adequate artificial lighting provided |
Conclusion
It is not absolutely mandatory for every workplace to have windows/daylight, as German law allows exceptions for underground and side rooms if certain conditions are met, particularly regarding artificial lighting and ventilation. Also, for rooms built before the 2016 revisions, transitional provisions and exceptions can apply. However, ensuring appropriate light and air conditions remains a legal obligation to guarantee employee health and safety.
Since none of the search results directly specify these detailed regulations, this answer is based on knowledge of German labor and workplace safety law, especially the Workplace Ordinance (Arbeitsstättenverordnung) as it relates to lighting and air quality in workplaces. For precise legal application, consulting the current ArbStättV text or official German labor safety publications is recommended.
It is worth noting that while basement rooms that are completely underground are exempt from the daylight requirement, break and standby rooms, and canteens are exceptions to the rule for side rooms regarding daylight and outdoor view requirements. These spaces must provide sufficient daylight and an outdoor view. Shopping passages, underground car parks, airport and train station halls are also exempt from the daylight requirement.
Science plays a role in ensuring workplace wellness by investigating the effects of natural light on employee health and productivity, offering recommendations for optimal lighting conditions to promote well-being in the workplace.
Employers can also leverage science-based solutions in workplaces that lack daylight access by implementing health-and-wellness strategies such as ergonomic office design, proper ventilation systems, and regular breaks, which can help mitigate potential negative impacts on employee health and productivity.
