The word ‘office’ has long been heavily associated with skyscrapers and modern complexes.

These days, however, many businesses have expanded their geographical reach – with many opting to work outside of the city. Firms located in rural areas can avoid high rent costs, busy commutes and –unsurprisingly – can enjoy major health benefits.

Those based in the countryside typically work from converted buildings, like barns and lofts. As with any indoor area, safety compliance is key.

If you want to transform an old building into an office, look no further: our guide can help you to achieve this.

Determine Property Age

Do you seek to convert an old building – like a barn – into a working space? If so, it may be worth determining its age before you decide to buy.

Often, it can be slight harder to obtain planning permission for properties that were built before a certain period than more modern constructions. Farm buildings pre-dating July 1948 may be determined by the same rules that are applied to the updating of listed buildings.

To avoid any legal disputes, it could be worth identifying its approximate age. Census returns, local history societies, and online sources can help with this.

In doing this, you can make sure that any space older than 71 years old will apply to all safety compliancy laws once it has been modified.

Consider Company Type  

What kind of business do you own? Do you provide face-to-face customer service? Or does client work happen outside of the office?

In the UK, Health and Safety regulations are universal. But particular ones can apply to certain workplace environments. On-Site construction may entail additional regulations that are specific to that industry, for example.

If craftwork – like carpentry – will take place within your desired barn or coach house, you must consider how its layout can protect workers from harm. Single story buildings with a wide surface area often present a less hazardous environment.

To maximise the safety of your converted space, identify any industry requirements regarding safety laws.

Guarantee Consistent Safety

Safety compliance is an ongoing task. But with the right equipment, you can easily maintain a comfortable, healthy space. Devices like automatic smoke ventilation systems can detect any issue before it arises. As a result, you can confront it quickly and effectively.

Additionally, health and safety compliance involves comfort. If it is not dealt with, discomfort can seriously affect our emotional and physical wellbeing.

Exposure to intense cold may lead to hyperthermia and confusion. Equally, without proper ventilation, heat exhaustion can occur in offices.

A manual window opener can enable you to eliminate either of these risks. With this tool, everyone in your converted business space can manage heat levels directly. Therefore, you can all work together to make it as comfortable and safe as possible.

A business relocation to the country could heighten the overall performance of your team and firm. Better still, it will deliver fantastic views. It may even improve staff members’ health. Now that you know how to optimise safety within your new office, you can create the ideal home for your company.