Ventilated Smoking Rooms

Smoking rooms are normally created by floor-to-ceiling partitions that separate the smoking occupants from non-smokers outside.

Without ventilation, smoking rooms quickly become very heavily polluted, with lingering odours and stains from the tobacco smoke. The smoke will also billow out into the non-smoking area outside.

It is, however, quite simple to make an effective smoking room that avoids these problems by taking the following steps:

• Provide it with at least 25l/p/s (90m³/p/h) of fresh air ventilation. It is important to avoid a short-circuiting airflow so try to use the airflow to sweep through all of the space.

• Manage the airflow either by a motion sensor or a CO2 sensor so that the equipment switches on/off – or up/down – according to the occupancy.

• Use a self-closing door. This does not have to be an electric one. Rise and fall hinges can ensure that the door naturally closes.

• Only use non-absorbent materials for furnishings and floor coverings. This will help to avoid deposition of ETS particles, causing lingering smells.

• Use self-closing or self-extinguishing ashtrays so that cigarette butt smells do not enter the room.

• Introduce a rigorous and regular cleaning regime to ensure that ashtrays are emptied and all surfaces wiped down to clean them thoroughly.