In Germany, office size requirements are set out in the ASR A1.2 (Technical Rules for Workplaces).
Dimensions of office workplaces
Regardless of the type of workspace, there must be a minimum floor space of 8 m² for the first workstation and 6 m² for each additional workstation.
ASR A1.2 also provides guideline values based on experience for specific office types:
- Cell offices: 8 to 10 m²
- Open-plan offices: 12 to 15 m²
The greater space requirement for open-plan offices compared to cell offices is mainly due to additional circulation areas and the need for larger distances and/or separating elements such as cabinets between work groups to minimise acoustic disruption.
Clear room height
ASR A1.2 also specifies requirements for room heights and room volumes.
For the clear height of workspaces, the following applies:
| Floor Area | Minimum Height (m) | Permissible reduction in m* |
|---|---|---|
| Rooms up to 50 m² | at least 2.50 | |
| Rooms more than 50 m² | at least 2.75 | max. 0.25 |
| Rooms more than 100 m² | at least 4.00 | max. 0.25 |
| Rooms more than 2,000 m² | at least 3.25 | max. 0.25 |
* A risk assessment must be carried out to rule out any health concerns.
Room volume
ASR A1.2 defines the following minimum room volumes for office workspaces:
- For predominantly seated work: 12 m³ per person
- For predominantly non-seated work: 15 m³ per person
