Posted By MP Tell the student to buy a fan. I don't think the Workplace Regs apply to rented domestic type accomodation such as yours. If your students have a history of lobbing things out of windows I'd keep them restricted. I'd maybe move asthmatics to the ground floor before removing the restrictors. Ring the HSE, see what they say. http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/temperature.htm

Posted By Alan Haynes You posted;- "We provide student accommodation across the UK and we have a policy that all windows are to be kept on the restrictors to avoid students falling, pushing each other out of windows and throwing items at passers by." How often did any of the stated actions occur before restrictors were fitted? Or are you just playing safe? Has a proper risk assessment been done?

Posted By CFT Hi Tracey Lets be clear here, the 24c is a recommendation by the World health organisation and that is a 'suggestion' as an upper limit, the HSE should have made that clear, (this is assuming it is a work place and for the sake of endless argument we will say that it is, on the basis that it is a commercial enterprise, but to be absolutely precise this is not so as I feel certain you will agree in this instance. The Government has been campaigned against for years to agree an upper limit, the workplace regulations relating to an indoor workplace say:- Regulation 7(1) "During working hours, the temperature in all workplaces inside buildings shall be 'reasonable'. "We are not going to adopt the WHO recommendation, over our dead bodies will an absolute upper limit be set, " was the gist of the response when presented to the House of Lords. Having to interpret an ACoP is ridiculous, for it is supposed to be there to be an interpretation of the regulations, anyway, 'an acceptable zone of thermal comfort for most people in the UK lies roughly between 13°C (56°F) and 30°C (86°F), with acceptable temperatures for more strenuous work activities concentrated towards the bottom end of the range, and more sedentary activities towards the higher end.' All the above of course is based upon a workplace; if twere me I may look at ways to allow further partial opening of the windows or make other suggestions that are not printable on this forum. Thermal Comfort in the Workplace HSG194, ISBN 0717624684 may assist, or, HSG132, Sick Building Syndrome. I think I may tell them to stop moaning, much warmer conditions are bound to be around the corner, and for the record, it is not a workplace; really, it's not. http://www.hse.gov.uk/contact/faqs/temperature.htm All the best CFT

Posted By Tracey C Hi All Many thanks for the sound information and advice. Yes it is a difficult one and over the years i have been involved with students falling to their death and the heartache it involves. Cheers Tx

Posted By Tabs Students sitting on window sills four floors up drinking beer. Summer school students (14 yrs old) crossing from one room to another along ledges two floors up (above spearhead iron railings). The first led to a stiff letter to all, the second led to restrictors being fitted. Anyone removing the restrictors were thrown out of accommodation on first offence. Sadly the restrictors did not save the summer school student running from room to room using the beds as trampolines, from going head first through a closed window, two floors up. Thankfully, he escaped with broken leg. And cuts. Keep the restrictors on, inform the student to study in the air conditioned library (assuming it is) or outside, in the shade, perhaps?

Posted By Anthony Edwards Hotel chain in Scotland fined around 200k I seem to remember due to two people falling from windows when restrictors were removed