Potential for natural ventilation – Applicability to retail and industrial building types

  • Created:
  • Reference: KBCN00074

For industrial and retail buildings the ‘potential for natural ventilation’ requirements apply only to office areas. If an industrial or retail building does not include any office areas, compliance is met by default.

This also applies to shell only and shell and core projects, where it can be demonstrated that no office spaces will be provided, as part of the fit-out.

Note: The requirements apply to permanently or semi-permanently occupied offices, however small admin areas which are only used occasionally can be excluded.

10-Oct-2025 - Title updated and wording updated to clarify. Applicability to UK RFO 2014 removed - Please refer to KBCN1799
11-Oct-2022 Title amended for clarity and consistency.
15-Sep-2017 IRFO scheme applicability removed - please refer to KBCN0531.
19-Oct-2016 Clarification note added in relation to shell only and shell and core projects.
25-Oct-2016 Distinction between offices and small admin areas added.