As Temperatures Rise, Germany's New Heat Rules Cover 130 Million Workers — But Hospitals Lag Behind
28.06.2026 - 08:45:59 | boerse-global.de
Just a third of German hospitals have air conditioning in patient rooms, according to the Marburger Bund, the country’s doctors' union. On a cardiology ward at the University Hospital Düsseldorf last June, physicians recorded 38.2°C — heat that can stall recovery and drive up mortality rates. The finding underscores a stark gap between the country’s evolving workplace heat protections and the reality in its healthcare facilities.
Across Europe, an estimated 130 million workers are exposed to extreme temperatures on the job. The European Trade Union Institute (ETUI) is pushing for EU-wide heat rules, pointing to data that links high temperatures to roughly 277,000 occupational injuries and 230 workplace deaths each year. Productivity, the institute notes, already dips by 2 percent for every degree above 16°C.
Germany has its own framework: the technical rule ASR A3.5. It sets escalating obligations for employers:
- From 26°C: employers should provide drinking water
- From 30°C: providing water becomes mandatory
- From 35°C: stricter measures are required — additional breaks, cooling rooms, or reduced physical exertion
A 2010 ruling by the Federal Labour Court (March 17) adds a layer: if an employer voluntarily supplies drinks for three consecutive years, that practice becomes a permanent entitlement.
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But national thresholds vary widely. Belgium sets a sliding scale between 18°C and 29°C depending on the physical intensity of the work. Italy relies on regional rules, some of which mandate work stoppages during midday hours.
The science behind the rules is nuanced. The old idea that air conditioning directly makes people sick was debunked as far back as the 1950s by the British Common Cold Unit. Yet studies from Brazil (2005) and India (2023) show that workers in air-conditioned offices report more respiratory complaints, headaches, and absenteeism. The culprit is often the so-called sick building syndrome — dirty filters, mould, and poor maintenance. Dry air irritates mucous membranes, and experts warn that neglected systems can breed Legionella bacteria, the cause of Legionnaires' disease.
The World Health Organization counters that the health risks of overheating are far greater. Well-maintained AC units filter dust and pollen, and, used properly, can be lifesaving.
In Germany alone, 2,500 people died from heat-related causes in 2025, according to official figures. Susanne Johna, chair of the Marburger Bund, criticised the lack of cooling regulations for patient areas: "Clear cooling requirements exist mostly for operating theatres and radiology departments." She warned that heat undermines healing and raises death rates, adding that Germany lags far behind France in implementing hospital heat protection plans.
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The irony is that the booming demand for cooling devices is making the problem worse. Midea reported a 37 percent sales increase in Germany; in France and Spain, growth topped 100 percent. Samsung and LG have posted double-digit gains and fully booked production lines since spring.
Yet air conditioners contribute to the urban heat island effect. Studies in Paris and Tokyo show that waste heat from AC units can raise outdoor night-time temperatures by up to 1°C. In narrow streets with poorly placed units, local spikes of 10°C have been recorded.
Researcher Bastian Schröter of HFT Stuttgart argues that the real solution is better building insulation and external shading, not more cooling machines. He points out that Germany’s current renovation rate of 0.8 percent is far too slow to meaningfully cut cooling demand.
