Germany's Heat-at-Work Rules: Fines Loom for Employers Who Ignore 30°C Threshold

German employers who let office temperatures climb above 30 degrees Celsius without taking action risk fines of up to €30,000. While there is no legal right to "heat-free holidays" in Germany, a binding workplace regulation — ASR A3.5 — sets out clear obligations that escalate as the mercury rises.

The regulation uses a three-stage model. Up to 26°C, a workspace is considered normal. Above that, employers must assess cooling options: blinds, overnight ventilation, or relaxed dress codes. At 30°C, the duty becomes mandatory — companies must implement effective measures. And once the thermometer hits 35°C, the room is unsuitable for work unless extra protection such as air showers or paid cooling breaks is provided.

One standard measure — fans — comes with a warning. The IG Metall union cautioned in mid-June that improper use in open-plan offices stirs up dust and creates drafts.

Just as German employers must document their heat-protection measures, UK firms face a similar duty: a formal risk assessment is the foundation of workplace safety. Yet many overlook critical gaps until it's too late. A free Risk Assessment Toolkit gives you 41 ready-to-use templates covering fire safety, manual handling, first aid and lone working — all aligned with current UK requirements. Download the free Risk Assessment Toolkit

Drinks and precedents

When indoor temperatures reach 30°C, employers must supply drinking water; tap water is sufficient. However, if an employer has provided coffee or bottled mineral water for at least three years without a formal "voluntariness clause," workers gain a legal entitlement through what German law calls "betriebliche Übung" — a practice that becomes a contractual right.

The price of a hot day

Short-term economic damage from extreme heat is modest but real. An expert at the Ifo Institute calculated the direct cost at roughly €431 million per hot day — about 0.01% of gross domestic product.

Longer term, the burden climbs. Investments in air conditioning and flexible working hours, especially in sectors like construction, will become unavoidable.

Unions target EU-wide cooling breaks

On June 25, 2026, the European Trade Union Confederation (EGB) demanded a Europe-wide right to paid cooling breaks — without wage loss — modelled on practices in professional sports. The push comes amid evidence that extreme temperatures sharply increase the risk of work-related fatalities.

Heat is just one of many hazards UK employers must manage. From the Health & Safety at Work Act to COSHH and PUWER, staying compliant means having the right documentation in place. A free Health & Safety Toolkit brings together ready-to-use risk assessments, checklists and templates that cover all the key regulations — trusted by over 37,000 UK businesses. Download the free Health & Safety Toolkit

Who gets extra protection?

Special groups face stricter thresholds. For pregnant women, the limit is already 26°C. Youths and workers with health impairments require individual assessments. Outdoor jobs have been covered since 2025 by a separate regulation, ASR A5.1.

Work councils hold co-determination rights under Section 87 of the German Works Constitution Act for all heat-protection measures — from flextime arrangements to technical cooling systems. In hospitals, the Federal Health Ministry has published model heat-protection plans, but their binding implementation and financing remain unresolved.

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