Every summer, office air conditioning crystallizes tensions between colleagues. On the one hand, those who shiver under the icy blast from the air vents. On the other, those who suffocate as soon as the system switches off. This battle of the thermostat, as old as the first office buildings, takes on a new dimension in modern workspaces, where open spaces and flex offices multiply the opportunities for friction. The remote control becomes an object of power, sometimes fought over with surprising intensity. Beyond the anecdotal, this summer cold war reveals very real issues for companies: team productivity, employee well-being and even energy consumption. A study by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology shows that productivity drops for every degree above 15°C, making thermal control essential. Yet the French Labor Code is silent on the ideal temperature to be maintained in business premises, leaving companies to navigate at a loss. This lack of a precise legal framework turns every summer into a social laboratory where conditions of thermal comfort in the workplace are negotiated, sometimes bitterly.
The challenges of thermal comfort for workplace performance
Thermal comfort is more than just a whim. It directly affects employees' ability to concentrate and productivity. An overheated office leads to drowsiness and irritability. A space that's too cold causes muscular contractures and an expenditure of body energy that fatigues the organism. Scientific research points to an optimal temperature range of between 19 and 26°C, depending on the season, with individual variations linked to age, metabolism and body size. This physiological reality explains the difficulty of satisfying everyone with a single setting.
Companies that neglect this dimension pay a high price. Thermal discomfort is one of the main causes of de-concentration cited by employees. It also feeds absenteeism, particularly when thermal shock causes respiratory pathologies or recurring migraines. Controlling energy consumption while guaranteeing a pleasant environment thus becomes a balancing act for executives and facility managers.
Productivity and ambient temperature: a measurable correlation
The figures speak for themselves. A temperature maintained at around 22°C maximizes cognitive performance for the majority of employees. Above 26°C, typing errors increase by 25%, according to studies carried out in call centers. Below 18°C, the speed at which tasks are carried out decreases significantly, as the body mobilizes its resources to maintain its internal temperature. These findings justify investment in efficient, correctly sized air-conditioning systems.
Air quality plays an equally decisive role. A poorly maintained system recycles dust, bacteria and allergens, degrading the respiratory environment and encouraging the spread of seasonal viruses. Daily airing, ideally before teams arrive, remains essential even in premises equipped with air conditioning. This practice renews oxygen and reduces air drying caused by the continuous operation of equipment.
Finding consensus among employees with different sensibilities
The search for a thermal consensus resembles a diplomatic negotiation. Each employee arrives at the office with his or her own preferences, shaped by metabolism, clothing habits and personal history. A person accustomed to working with open windows will have difficulty tolerating an airtight environment. Another, from a warm region, will find pleasant what his neighbors describe as icy. These legitimate differences complicate collective temperature management.
Some companies opt for centralized, locked systems where no employee can change the settings. This approach avoids remote control wars, but generates frustration. Others prefer to allow partial autonomy, even if it means regularly arbitrating conflicts. Intelligent space planning can alleviate these tensions by creating zones with differentiated thermal environments.
The 8°C rule to avoid thermal shock
The French Environment and Energy Management Agency (ADEME) recommends maintaining a maximum temperature difference of 8°C between indoors and outdoors. This rule protects the body from sudden transitions that damage the cardiovascular system and weaken the immune system. On a 35°C heatwave, lowering the air-conditioning to 27°C is enough to create perceptible relief without exposing employees to the inconvenience of repeated hot-cold transitions.
This recommendation often clashes with the expectations of those who dream of an icy refuge in the middle of summer. Erick Maville, President of the Santé en entreprise association, reminds us that the aim is not to turn the office into a cold room, but to achieve reasonable cooling. Prolonged exposure to air conditioning for more than eight hours a day increases the risk of dry eyes, headaches and respiratory tract irritation.
Communication and collective rules, the keys to living together thermally
Establishing an open dialogue on temperature management transforms a subject of conflict into an opportunity to strengthen cohesion. Clearly displaying authorized temperature settings, appointing an air-conditioning manager, organizing seasonal preference surveys: these simple practices defuse tensions before they escalate. Collective well-being depends on this recognition of individual sensitivities.
Operated offices often include this dimension in their service offering. A single contact manages settings and arbitrates requests, freeing companies from this organizational burden. This outsourcing of thermal comfort to professionals guarantees optimum conditions without mobilizing in-house teams.
| Situation | Recommended temperature | Practical advice |
|---|---|---|
| Winter, offices occupied | 19-21 °C | Maintain a stable temperature, avoid sudden variations |
| Summer, outdoor temperature 30 °C | 24-26 °C | Maintain a maximum distance of 8°C from the outdoors |
| Heatwave, outside temperature 35 °C+. | 26-27 °C | Favour blinds and natural ventilation as a complement |
| Unoccupied meeting room | Economy mode | Program start 15 minutes before occupancy |
| Mixed open space | 22-24 °C | Create differentiated zones where possible |
Air quality and air conditioning maintenance
A poorly maintained air-conditioning system becomes a vector of nuisance. Clogged filters spread dust and allergens. Damp ducts encourage the growth of mold, whose spores irritate bronchial tubes. Bacteria, particularly Legionella in water systems, represent a serious health risk. Regular maintenance, ideally twice a year, guarantees optimal operation and preserves indoor air quality.
This technical vigilance also has an impact on operating costs. A well-maintained piece of equipment consumes less energy than a faulty one, which compensates for lost output by running harder. Reducing our ecological footprint requires attention to operational details that are often overlooked.
Everyday gestures for responsible air conditioning
Switching off the air-conditioning when leaving the premises seems obvious, but is neglected in many companies. Appointing someone to carry out this daily check avoids wastage at night and at weekends. Closing blinds and shutters during the hottest hours of the day reduces the building's thermal load, thus reducing the load on the equipment. These simple reflexes reduce energy bills without compromising occupant comfort.
Anticipating heat peaks rather than reacting in an emergency helps avoid extreme settings. Gradually cooling the premises in the early morning maintains a stable temperature throughout the day. This preventive approach spares equipment and preserves the well-being of employees, who won't have to endure the temperature fluctuations of a system pushed to its limits.
Adapting workspaces to today's thermal challenges
Office architecture has a direct influence on climate management. Large bay windows, popular for their luminosity, turn premises into greenhouses as soon as the first rays of summer sunshine appear. Giant open spaces complicate thermal zoning, as air circulates freely between workstations with different needs. Choosing the right office means assessing these parameters beforehand, rather than having to put up with them afterwards.
New-generation reversible heat pumps offer high-performance technical solutions. Some models feature remote sensors on remote controls for precise adjustment at user level. Remote control via smartphone application lets you adjust parameters before you even get to the office. These technological innovations facilitate consensus-building by offering greater flexibility.
Flexible offices, a response to variations in occupancy
Shared workspaces present a particular thermal challenge. Occupancy fluctuates from day to day and from hour to hour, making fixed settings unsuitable. An empty meeting room doesn't need to be air-conditioned to 22°C. A crowded coworking space in mid-afternoon needs more power than in the morning. Intelligent systems equipped with presence sensors respond to this problem by automatically adapting cooling or heating output.
This thermal modularity is in line with the environmental concerns of companies committed to a structured CSR approach. Air-conditioning only in occupied areas significantly reduces electricity consumption without sacrificing the comfort of those present. Green plants in the office also help to naturally regulate hygrometry and improve ambient air quality.
Teleworking and hybridization: new parameters to integrate
The rise of hybrid working is reshuffling the deck when it comes to thermal management. Offices now accommodate varying numbers of staff on different days, and this has an impact on energy requirements. A workstation designed for fifty people but occupied by twenty does not require the same air-conditioning power. Managing this flow of workers means adapting installations to the new organizational realities.
The transfer of energy costs to employees' homes also raises questions. The rising cost of electricity has a direct impact on the budgets of teleworkers, who air-condition their homes during heat waves. This social dimension invites companies to rethink their overall thermal comfort policy, both in the office and remotely.
Towards a shared corporate thermal culture
Beyond equipment and settings, we need to establish a genuine culture of thermal togetherness. Acknowledging that preferences differ without ranking them. Accept seasonal compromises. Favoring dialogue over warring positions. These simple principles can transform a daily irritant into an opportunity to strengthen professional relations.
Companies looking for office space in Paris or elsewhere are well advised to include thermal considerations in their selection criteria. A well-oriented building, equipped with efficient and well-maintained facilities, offers a setting conducive to collective serenity. This real estate choice has a lasting impact on the day-to-day life of teams and their ability to work in optimal conditions.
Office air conditioning will remain a sensitive subject as long as human beings have different thermal sensitivities. This physiological reality calls for humility and mutual benevolence. True consensus lies not in a single temperature that miraculously satisfies everyone, but in the collective ability to negotiate acceptable compromises and respect them. This organizational maturity distinguishes companies where it's good to work from those where the same sterile conflicts reappear every summer.
What is the ideal temperature to maintain in an air-conditioned office in summer?
INRS and ADEME recommend a temperature of between 24 and 26°C in summer. This range guarantees sufficient comfort, while avoiding thermal shocks when entering and leaving the building. To protect occupants' health, the difference with the outside temperature should not exceed 8°C.
Does the employer have a legal obligation to install air conditioning in offices?
The French Labor Code requires employers to guarantee the health and safety of their employees, and this includes acceptable temperature conditions. However, there is no legal requirement to install air-conditioning. Employers must take the necessary measures to protect their teams from extreme temperatures, using means appropriate to the situation.
How do you manage conflicts between colleagues with opposing thermal preferences?
Communication remains the best tool. Clearly displaying adjustment rules, appointing an air-conditioning consultant and organizing regular discussions on the subject can defuse tensions. Where space allows, creating zones with differentiated thermal ambiences offers a practical solution to divergent sensitivities.
How often should I have my office air conditioning serviced?
Professionals recommend a minimum of two interventions per year, ideally before summer and winter. This regular maintenance ensures that equipment functions properly, preserves indoor air quality and optimizes energy consumption. A poorly maintained system can become a vector for bacteria and moulds that are harmful to health.
Can an air-conditioned office be ventilated?
Daily ventilation remains essential, even in air-conditioned premises. It renews oxygen and evacuates indoor pollutants that air conditioning recycles without eliminating. The ideal time is early in the morning, before the crews arrive and the system is up and running. Windows should then remain closed during air-conditioning operation to avoid wasting energy.
