Smoking Shelters

Guide To Smoke Free Areas and Smoking Shelters

The UK Smoke Free law applies to nearly all enclosed and substantially enclosed public and work places. This includes permanent or temporary structures.

The current legislation will also mean that any internal smoking rooms in public and work places are no longer allowed.

Definition of Enclosed Premises

When the structures roof or ceiling is wholly enclosed on a permanent or temporary basis, with the exception of doors, windows or passageways.

Definition of a Substantially Enclosed Premises

When the structure has a roof or ceiling and an opening in the walls which is more than half the total area of the walls.

If any organisation is planning to install a smoking shelter outside their premises the 50% open area compliancy needs to be considered. If for any reason you are unsure about any part of the compliancy you should contact your local council.

It is also important to consider issues like planning permission, licensing, building control, noise and litter.

Guide To Smoke Free Vehicles

The current legislation requires vehicles to be smoke free if they are:

•  Transporting members of the public

•  Being used by more than one person who is in employed or voluntary work

All smoke free vehicles should display no – smoking signs in each compartment of the vehicle in which people are transported

The signage must have the standard international no smoking symbol at least 70mm in diameter

The legislation excludes vehicles being used for private use

Private Buildings

The legislation does not apply to private dwellings, except in the case where the premises is open to the public or being used by employees

Exemptions to the Legislation

Very few premises are exempt from the new smoke free law with very strict guidelines applying to any such exemptions

Premises which are exempt :

Hotels, Inns, Guesthouses, members clubs that provide sleeping accommodation can allow smoking only in designated guest bedrooms; this excludes any other areas of the building

Care homes, Hospices and Prisons may also designate individual bedrooms or rooms for smoking

Specialist Tobacconist shops may allow customers to sample only cigars or pipe tobacco within the shop area. This excludes cigarettes or any other substance

Conditions for Designated Smoking Rooms:

It is the responsibility of the management of premises to ensure that designated smoking rooms are / have:

Designated in writing by them or the person in charge and should be available at all times the relevant details when asked by an enforcement officer.

A ceiling, except for doors and windows is completely enclosed on all side walls from floor to ceiling.

No ventilation systems which ventilate into any other part of a premises which is smoke free.

Law compliant mechanical doors which meet fire regulations. This does not apply to prisons.

Clearly marked as smoking area rooms in which smoking is permitted.

Any rooms used as designated smoking rooms must at all time be used as smoking rooms and not for any other purpose. If you have any other queries regarding smoking shelters then please visit www.shell2smoke.co.uk for more advice on smoking cigarettes outside.