Office space allocation

The Approved Code of Practice associated with the workplace (Health, Safety & Welfare) Regulations 1992 suggests that each employee (in an office environment) should have at least 11 cubic metres (up to a maximum ceiling height of 3 metres).  However, this figure is for unoccupied space & doesn't take into account furniture & equipment.  While the minimum space requirements recommended for H & S equates to 4.2m2 the traditional amount of space allocated by designers and/or space planners is 10m2.  Although this figure includes a proportion of general circulation space.  The British Council for Offices(BOC) suggests a best practice range of between 12 to 17m2 per person.

You will need to make sure you leave sufficient space between desks to allow for safe access & egress especially in the event of emergencies.  There are no legal minimum widths specified in legislation covering gangway widths although BS5588 11:1997 suggests a gap of 600mm for less than ten people easily able to move & 900mm for a wheelchair user.  In terms of what would be regarded as best practice BOC state that the recommended width for walkways in an open plan office is approximately 1000mm although office fit-out companies typically use 1200 to 1500mm as this is the usual building/planning grid used by designers/space planners.

You also need to bear in mind that walkways will also be escape routes & therefore need to be considered as part of the fire risk assessment.  The standard width of exit doors onto the stairs or other means of escape results in most circulation routes being a minimum of 1200mm.