How far away from doors and windows does a smoking shelter need to be ?

Question

I work on the 3rd floor of an office building in a large mail order company. Directly below us is the smoking shelter and when we open a window the smell of smoke is over powering and we are forced to shut the window. Surely if the reason smokers are not allowed to smoke inside is because it is a health hazard then what is the stance on smoke coming in the windows and being subjected to it 35 hours per week at least.

Answer 1

That's the really stupid thing about this new legislation. The smoke is more concentrated in one small area. It'd be better if smokers were allowed to smoke in an inside area with suitable ventilation. That way it's controllable.

Answer 2

All the ones I have seen are attached to buildings as lean-to's. I heard that a pub in Reading was instructed by the police to close their windows at the weekend. As I was told it, no complaint had been made by those inside of smoke coming in but there were plenty of complaints about the fact that it was a stiflingly hot day. The pub in question fronts onto a main street and smokers are constantly to and fro in front of it.

Come on non-smokers - you got your wish to relegate smokers to the elemental badlands. If you can't deal with the exercising of personal choice in the open air, stay home and keep your windows shut and your aircon on max.

Answer 3

Shut your windows. When the law passed you wanted them outside. Now that is where they all are in one place. You wanted indoors to be smoke free and that is what you have. It is no different than car exhaust or some other things coming in the window.

Answer 4

they need to be able to smoke somewhere, ask your company to get air conditioning, or fans, then you will be able to keep the window shut,then everyone will be happy,keep safe all the best

Answer 5

It doesn't have to be any distance - so long as it's not substantially enclosed it can be anywhere.

Just another case of people not thinking it through...