Criterion HS118
# Maintain a comfortable temperature in rooms used by children (no lower than 18°C at 500mm above the floor), allowing for fluctuating temperatures for brief periods. If applicable, any thermometers fixed on walls are positioned out of children's reach and no higher than 1500mm above the floor.
Guidance
How to show you are complying
You must maintain a comfortable temperature in rooms used by children, (excluding hallways). You need to make sure that the temperature is a comfortable temperature and is at least 18°C at 500mm above the floor. This is important as young children participate in floor-based activities.
Sometimes the temperature might briefly fluctuate below 18°C. Minor temperature reductions for brief periods are accepted but you will need to take action to bring the temperature back up to at least 18°C.
Managing comfortable temperature
If there are signs that room temperature is not comfortable for children, you will need to measure the temperature of these rooms and take appropriate action.
New Zealand is increasingly exposed to warmer temperatures, which can affect the comfort and wellbeing of children in your service. Children are more susceptible to heat extremes than adults, so it is important to monitor and manage indoor temperatures throughout the year. During summer or periods of high heat, there may be a need to cool rooms to maintain an appropriate and safe temperature.
Look for common signs that the temperature is not comfortable for children.
Physical symptoms children are too cold:
children have cold, red or pale skin, particularly on their hands, feet and face
any child is shivering or have trouble breathing
multiple children have a noticeably reduced appetite
multiple children need warm clothes to stay warm
children are unusually tired, sleepy or inactive.
Physical symptoms children are too hot:
flushed skin
cool, clammy skin despite the heat
increased sweating
children are unusually tired, sleepy or inactive
increased thirst
heat rash (small red bumps, often on neck, chest, or folds of skin).
Behavioural changes that signal children are too hot or cold:
children are unsettled, irritable, or fussy
irritability
children that typically sleep in the service have trouble resting and sleeping
multiple children cannot focus or learn effectively
multiple children find it difficult to regulate effectively.
When checking the temperature, you must check it at 500mm above the floor to make sure it is comfortable at children’s level. One way to check this is by using a portable thermometer.
There is no requirement to regularly measure or record the room temperature.
If you choose to install a thermometer fixed to the wall, this needs to be out of children’s reach no higher than 1500mm above the floor. You will still need to make sure the temperature is at least 18°C at 500mm above floor level.
If you have a thermometer fixed to walls at 1500mm and readings frequently dip below 18°C, this could indicate that temperatures at 500mm is lower. Because heat rises, take a measurement at 500mm to check the temperature to help you identify if you need to increase heating in the room.
Thermometer apps on phones or tablets are not recommended as the reliability of different apps is not able to be verified. Phones or tablets are not devices built specifically to reliably measure room temperature. Accuracy of any purported temperature readings may be affected by the temperature of the device.
Selecting heating systems
When selecting heating systems for ECE centres, it is important to prioritise options that do not produce or contribute to indoor air pollution. Recommended systems include:
flued gas heaters or central heating systems that vent pollutants outside
electric heaters
reverse-cycle air conditioning units.
Unflued gas heaters should not be used in ECE centres. These heaters emit significant amounts of polluting gases and water vapour, which can lead to:
rapid moisture build-up in rooms, increasing the risk of mould growth and dust mite infestations
adverse health impacts for children, including respiratory issues
danger of asphyxiation in inadequately ventilated spaces
exposure to harmful nitrogen oxides.
Using safe heating systems helps maintain healthy indoor air quality and supports children’s wellbeing.
When assessing whether you comply with HS118
Questions we are likely to ask
How do know the room temperature is comfortable for children?
On particularly cold days, how do you make sure rooms used by children remain at a comfortable temperature?
If you are concerned about the temperature, how you measure the temperature (for example, a thermometer)?
What steps you take to warm rooms that fall below 18 degrees Celsius?
We are likely to look at, measure or count
Measure the temperature in rooms used by children. Temperatures will be measured within indoor spaces used by children, not directly at doorways which may be regularly opened and closed as children enter and exit or near windows which may be opened and closed for ventilation purposes.
If applicable, check that any thermometers fixed to the wall are out of reach of children and are no higher than 1500mm above the floor.
We are likely to request
The hash symbol # indicates that we might ask for a report from the National Public Health Service, under Regulation 55 of the Education (Early Childhood Services) Regulations 2008.
The tools below are here to support you, but you do not have to use them. You can use other tools or methods that work better for your service.
Housing and health guidelines – World Health Organization
WorkSafe provide guidance for managing thermal comfort at work
Managing thermal comfort at work – WorkSafe
Health NZ guidance about developing Heat Health Plans
Heat Health Plans: Guidelines and key information – Health New Zealand | Te Whatu Ora
Maintaining comfortable temperatures at child height is essential for reducing the risk of respiratory illnesses and supporting children's wellbeing during play and learning.
While some temperature fluctuations are expected throughout the day, these should be kept to a minimum and addressed promptly to ensure a consistently safe and comfortable environment.
Doing more than the minimum helps make things better for children and easier for staff. Below are some ideas you can consider.
You could keep a child-safe thermometer at 1500mm above the floor in rooms used by children. Ideally, adults should monitor the temperature throughout the day and make any necessary adjustments to the heating to make sure the temperature remains comfortable.
On cooler days, you may want to consider heating rooms used by children to at least 20°C. This aligns with the World Health Organization’s guidelines for vulnerable people, which extends to young children. Operating at this level is also likely to stop your service inadvertently fluctuating below 18°C.