A hot surprise – according to meteorologists, the heat wave “Gerd” will bring midsummer back to Germany in the upcoming days. Optimal swimming weather is predicted once again just before the school holidays come to a close. However, anyone who has to go into the office this week should arm themselves against the heat. These are our tips for combating the hot hours in the office – and how you can get through the day …
7:00 a.m. – Be sure to put on heat-appropriate clothing
Heat wave or not – in very few office jobs is it advisable to present oneself in shorts, strapless tops or flip flops. You should therefore choose very airy clothing in the morning, ideally out of linen, silk or cotton, and avoid anything made predominantly of synthetic fibre.
7:30 a.m. – Get to the Office Earlier
Begin your work day as early in the morning as is possible in your profession. And instead of sweating in the office during the hottest hours of the day, treat yourself to an extended lunch break.
8:15 a.m. – Aerate Thoroughly
Proper ventilation is a crucial requirement to get through a hot summer day in the office. You should ideally air out the office as early as possible so that cool air can flow into the room. When the temperatures outside increase, you should keep the widows shut. When the temperatures drop in the evening, you can open the windows back up. You should ideally cover the windows with awnings or roller blinds as much as possible during the day, especially if the sun shines directly on your window.
9:30 a.m. – Turn off Technical Devices
Of course you should only turn off those which you do not constantly need. From the printer to the lamp or the coffee machine, these devices produce additional heat, which no one needs with the heat in the upcoming days. Plus you will save electricity at the same time!
10:30 a.m. – Start up the Fan
On the other hand, you should keep the fan running, because it produces more cooling than it does heat. The wind generated by the TVE 9 from Trotec, for example, thus provides so-called evaporation cooling for sweating skin. The air feels perceptibly cooler even if the room is the same temperature as before. Our TVE 16 pedestal fan and TVE 29 T tower fan also operate according to this effective principle. Make sure not to aim the cooling air stream at your body long term because it can bring about colds or muscle tension.
10:35 a.m. – Or Rely on Mobile Air Conditioning Units
Mobile air conditioning units are definitely the most effective way to keep an office cool. For this, Trotec offers units such as the PAC 2000 E for smaller office rooms and the PAC 3500 E for larger office rooms up to 45 m² with energy efficiency class A – that means you can let the units run longer without a guilty conscience. Both units quickly cool rooms perceptibly and have, in addition to the cooling function, a dehumidification and ventilation function.
11:00 a.m. – Reach for the Right Beverage
When office temperatures are around 30 degrees, why not slurp down an ice cold soft drink? It’s simple: Because beverages only provide temporary refreshment, owing to the fact that the stomach has to warm up the cold liquid. To do so, the body must in turn expend energy, thereby raising body temperature. Not to mention your circulation drops quickly after the initial sugar high. Our recommendation: On a hot day, you should take in a total of two to three litres of fluids. It’s best to turn to spritzers, mineral water or tap water, all of which should be room temperature. Here you can easily keep your tap water germ free and clear by using a SecoSan Stick from Trotec.
12:30 p.m. – Choose the right Lunch
You should especially avoid oily and heavy lunches on hot days.. You are better off focussing on light dishes and a lot of fruit. Then your body doesn’t have to expend so much energy for digestion, and on top of that, fruit provides additional fluids.
2:00 p.m. – Refresh yourself Intermittently
A water sprayer can provide you with a small but exquisite refreshment. And before you go out and buy an expensive sprayer from the perfume store, you can save money by simply filling up a small spray bottle with cool tap water.
3:00 p.m. – Work is Dismissed due to the Heat!
Oh wait – employers aren’t legally obligated to have ‘heat days’ like schools are. However, if the room temperature is at 30 degrees or higher, the employer is obligated to take action to provide cooling. And with a room temperature of 35 degrees or more, in accordance with the applicable legal regulations, the health risk is so great that without countermeasures by the employer, such as fans, free drinking water or ventilation, there may definitely be a demand to shorten work time. But if in doubt, you are better off keeping a cool head – even the hottest days are only temporary!
