FAQ – Closed spaces
1. Which spaces are covered by the Law of 6 November 2022?
The Law of 6 November 2022 covers closed spaces accessible to the public.
2. What is considered a closed space accessible to the public?
1° Closed space: Indoor space closed off from its environment by walls, doors or doorways and fitted with a ceiling or floor.
2° Space accessible to the public:
a) A place whose access is not limited to the family sphere or purely to the professional sphere and where the public may enter freely or under certain conditions.
b) In particular the following establishments or buildings:
i. administrative premises;
ii. railway stations;
iii. airports;
iv. shops;
v. places in which services are provided to the public, free of charge or in return for payment, including places in which food and/or drink are offered for consumption;
vi. places in which the sick or elderly are housed or cared for;
vii. places in which preventive or curative health care is provided;
viii. places in which children or young people of school age are received, accommodated or cared for;
ix. places in which education and/or professional training is provided;
x. places in which performances are given;
xi. places in which exhibitions are organised;
xii. places in which sporting activities are carried out;
xiii. places in which the activities of membership organisations are carried out.
3. Does my house have to comply with the Law of 6 November 2022?
No. The Law of 6 November 2022 does not apply to all areas reserved exclusively for the family.
4. Does my workplace have to comply with the Law of 6 November 2022?
All workplaces reserved exclusively for workers are not obliged to comply with the Law of 6 November 2022.
However, they must comply with the CODEX of Well-being at Work, which applies to all premises intended to include workstations in company or establishment buildings. In this case, regarding air quality, the employer takes the necessary technical and/or organisational measures to ensure that the CO2 concentration in the work premises is generally below 900 ppm, or that a minimum ventilation rate of 40 m3/h per person present is respected.
5. What is considered a space reserved exclusively for workers?
A space reserved exclusively for workers is a workspace to which only authorised employees or personnel normally have access as part of their duties.
6. What requirements must closed spaces accessible to the public meet?
There are currently no obligations.
Since 1 October 2024, all those responsible for closed spaces accessible to the public that wish to do so have been able to apply the law on a voluntary basis. For each space (i.e. room), they must:
• use at least one air quality meter;
• draw up a risk analysis;
• draw up an action plan, if the risk analysis shows it to be necessary.
7. In the future, for each closed space accessible to the public, it will also be necessary to:
• apply for certification for the space;
• display the certification as soon as it is awarded by the FPS;
• continue to operate the space under technical conditions at least equivalent to those in place at the time of certification.
8. When will there be obligations for closed spaces accessible to the public?
From 1 January 2027, certain closed spaces accessible to the public will have to comply with the following requirements:
• use at least one air quality meter;
• draw up a risk analysis;
• draw up an action plan, if the risk analysis shows it to be necessary.
The scope of application will then be gradually extended to cover all spaces by the end of 2037.
As soon as the certification application process is in place, premises applying the initial provisions will, on a voluntary basis, be able to:
• apply for certification for the space;
• display the certification as soon as it is awarded by the FPS;
• continue to operate the space under technical conditions at least equivalent to those in place at the time of certification.
These provisions will then become mandatory, at the earliest on 1 January 2038, i.e. once all closed spaces accessible to the public are covered by the initial obligations.