Its not a simple yes or no answer. It depends.... does working in the roof space have one of the prescribed risks as given in the Confined Spaces Regs?

Brian has given the correct detailed legal definition but a 'back to basics' response is: In law (and practice) a 'confined space' isn't just a place that is physically confined, but somewhere you can also be exposed to a significant breathing hazard. Most roof spaces won't have any such hazards, so aren't 'confined spaces' in law - though they may well be difficult to access and/or rescue someone from if they have an accident or illness while in them. But if that happens and the person can't self-rescue (e.g. leg through weak ceiling, heart attack), there's then no other continuing hazard from the space itself. Whereas in a 'confined space', both the individual and rescuers have to be suitably protected from the breathing risk for as long as it takes to get everyone out. Hope this explains the 'whys' in your initial posting.

I agree with Ian. If you had someone who was working in a roof space on a hot summers day, the temperature can easily be high 30's and can result in heat stress and exhaustion, particularly if there is no ventilation and no means of losing heat. We have employees in their late 60's and still working, some of which have to endure these conditions. For this reason we do treat such spaces as confined spaces as per our risk assessment. I hope this clarifies.

There was a big discussion about whether attics, lofts, voids, etc were a confined space some time back. Mixed responses if I recall correctly. The crux of the issue is what hazards are there likely to be in the roof space and what controls can one reasonably put in place - tricky. As far as I'm concerned a roof space is not a confined space per se. However, there could be a lack of oxygen, heat, hazards like asbestos, fibre glass, etc, then clearly the roof space could be dangerous and considered a confined space.