Best heaters for the office

Workplace temperature and heating

HSE says a reasonable working temperature in workrooms is usually at least 16C, or 13C for strenuous work. Where a comfortable temperature cannot be kept throughout a room, it advises local heating, and for cold conditions it suggests providing adequate heating, such as portable heaters, so work areas are warm enough when occupied.

HSE also says heating systems should not give off dangerous or offensive levels of fumes into the workplace, so avoid fuel-burning heaters indoors unless your risk assessment covers them.

Electrical safety and PAT

HSE says the law does not require annual PAT testing. The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 require electrical equipment that could cause injury to be maintained in a safe condition, and the frequency of checks depends on the equipment and where it is used.

HSE says visual inspection is essential because some defects cannot be found by testing alone, and that in low-risk environments a competent member of staff can do it. Add every heater to your equipment list, including any brought in from home, and check plugs and cables before each winter.

Safe use in an office

• Keep heaters at least one metre from anything that can burn, such as paper, furniture and curtains, as Hertfordshire Fire and Rescue advises.
• Plug heaters straight into a wall socket. The Fire Industry Association warns against powering a heater from an extension lead, as leads can easily be overloaded.
• Use heaters on a flat, stable surface and choose models with tip-over protection where you can.
• Switch heaters off when the room is empty and at the end of the day.
• Include portable heaters in your fire risk assessment and keep them out of escape routes.