Smoking shelters around working places and business premises are very useful. Employees and customers who smoke enjoy having a designated smoking area where they are free to smoke. Non-smokers on the other hand do not have to put up with any irritating smoke or noise. As an employer or a business owner, you need to understand smoking shelter legislation so that you can do the right thing without getting into trouble with neighbours, health and safety departments and planning regime. Discussed below are four things about the legislation surrounding smoking shelters that you need to know.
Permission from local planning authority – In order to install smoking shelters, you need to contact local planning authority in order to fill application forms and follow the right planning permission process. The shelter structures need to comply with building laws otherwise you might invest in a structure that is not built as per the planning authority regulations and that means trouble. The smoke - free legislation forbids smoking in substantially enclosed structures. The smoking shelter should therefore be of a modest size and with enough open space. For instance it could have fifty percent or more of openings in the enclosing walls if the structure has a ceiling or roof. This is in compliance with the 50% rule that states that no more than half the percentage area of the smoking shelter should be enclosed. This is also in accordance with many countries’ health act.
Carry out fire risk assessment on the smoking shelters – Smoking shelter legislation of most places requires that the fire risk assessment takes into account identification of all kinds of ignition and fuel, including smokers and the fire controlling measures that have been adopted by the business or company. For instance the material used to build the structure should be fire retardant.
Noise control to avoid license review or penalties –Smoking shelter legislation on noise requires the structure to be built far away from residential areas to avoid bothering neighbours with noise or smoke. You could also use one of your staff to ensure that smokers control their noise levels especially in the evening. Use of external doors to and from smoking shelters may also create noise or nuisance to neighbours or even non-smokers. You may consider an acoustic lobby that has extra set of doors since it reduces the amount of noise from the doors.
Ensure that your customers or employees avoid smoking in smoke-free areas – If they happen to do so you could be fined heavily and the smoker could be presented with fixed penalty notice of some amount of money. It is also important to note that, in the presence of smoking shelters, no-smoking signs need not to be displayed.
Smoking shelters may comprise of canopies, awnings and any other structure under a roof provided it meets the 50% sides smoking shelter legislation. Smoke-free workplaces and business areas legislation helps to control the impact of having smoking shelters on neighbours who may otherwise have to deal with late night noise and smoke.
Permission from local planning authority – In order to install smoking shelters, you need to contact local planning authority in order to fill application forms and follow the right planning permission process. The shelter structures need to comply with building laws otherwise you might invest in a structure that is not built as per the planning authority regulations and that means trouble. The smoke - free legislation forbids smoking in substantially enclosed structures. The smoking shelter should therefore be of a modest size and with enough open space. For instance it could have fifty percent or more of openings in the enclosing walls if the structure has a ceiling or roof. This is in compliance with the 50% rule that states that no more than half the percentage area of the smoking shelter should be enclosed. This is also in accordance with many countries’ health act.
Carry out fire risk assessment on the smoking shelters – Smoking shelter legislation of most places requires that the fire risk assessment takes into account identification of all kinds of ignition and fuel, including smokers and the fire controlling measures that have been adopted by the business or company. For instance the material used to build the structure should be fire retardant.
Noise control to avoid license review or penalties –Smoking shelter legislation on noise requires the structure to be built far away from residential areas to avoid bothering neighbours with noise or smoke. You could also use one of your staff to ensure that smokers control their noise levels especially in the evening. Use of external doors to and from smoking shelters may also create noise or nuisance to neighbours or even non-smokers. You may consider an acoustic lobby that has extra set of doors since it reduces the amount of noise from the doors.
Ensure that your customers or employees avoid smoking in smoke-free areas – If they happen to do so you could be fined heavily and the smoker could be presented with fixed penalty notice of some amount of money. It is also important to note that, in the presence of smoking shelters, no-smoking signs need not to be displayed.
Smoking shelters may comprise of canopies, awnings and any other structure under a roof provided it meets the 50% sides smoking shelter legislation. Smoke-free workplaces and business areas legislation helps to control the impact of having smoking shelters on neighbours who may otherwise have to deal with late night noise and smoke.