Although employers in the UK are not legally required to give their staff smoking breaks (they are required to give rest breaks) most are pretty flexible and breaks for a cigarette or vape have become a normal part of the working day. When a company does not provide a dedicated outside smoking area, the staff (who smoke) are forced to gather in a nearby corner or another suitable area to shield themselves from the weather. It is neither comfortable nor healthy for the staff and certainly does not give a good impression to visitors.
As specialists in providing all types of shelters, storage solutions and walkways for over 25 years, we have seen many companies benefit from our smoking shelters. The Oxford smoking shelter could be ideal for your workplace. Neat and smart, these shelters are sturdy, virtually maintenance-free, as well as functional. It’s an addition to your workplace that your staff, as well as your visitors, will thank you for.
A look you choose
While the standard Oxford smoking shelter is a very nice size (1.5m x 1m) there are many options to choose from so you can customise your shelter to create a style that suits your workplace and its surroundings. It may be functional, but you can still choose to get creative and go for a shelter that’s a talking point and makes a statement.
Everything we produce is bespoke to your requirements, so while a smoking shelter must be 50% glazed and 50% open for ventilation, you have a choice of colours (traffic yellow, traffic blue, traffic red, moss green, or yellow green) and roof styles (flat, pitched or domed).
You are also able to add extra panels, if it fits in with the guidelines, and even include a seat for extra comfort for the smokers. There are options with glazing too, with a choice of polycarbonate or toughened safety glass, although we recommend the latter. And, of course, depending on the size of your company you may require something bigger. You can even add solar panels.
Where to put your smoking shelter
You will need to choose a place for your shelter that is close to the entrance but not a place that will disturb the non-smokers when they walk past. Remember that the smoking shelter is 50% open to the elements, so choose a place away from a wind tunnel so the people using it are protected from the wind and driving rain as much as possible. You are, after all, putting up the smoking shelter for the comfort of staff and visitors.
It’s best to choose a flat area that already has a hard stand, which the smoking shelter requires so it can be bolted to the ground. If you don’t already have a suitable area with a hard stand we’d be happy to arrange a quote for you. Finally, choose a location that is not surrounded by puddles and mud. Your staff won’t thank you for getting covered in muck every time they go for a cigarette and you’ll avoid it getting trampled back into your office or factory.
Get in touch with our team today to learn more about our smoking shelter products.