Posted by Werner Nossal
What Does the New Heat Protection Ordinance Regulate?
Summers are getting hotter – and the legal requirements stricter. With the new Austrian Heat Protection Ordinance (Hitzeschutzverordnung), Austria introduces clear rules from 1 January 2026 to protect employees during high temperatures. For companies, this means action is required.
The new Heat Protection Ordinance obliges employers to take technical and organisational measures as soon as heat warning level 2 or higher is reached. The aim is to protect employees' health while maintaining performance in the workplace.
Particularly affected are:
- Production and storage halls
- Hospitality & commercial kitchens
- Workshops and car dealerships
- Event venues, tents & temporary structures
Why Air Conditioning Is Often Not the Ideal Solution
Many businesses automatically think of air conditioning when it gets hot. But it comes with several drawbacks:
- High energy consumption
- Expensive purchase and maintenance costs
- Mostly unsuitable with open doors or in halls
- Recirculated air instead of fresh air
- Long planning and installation times
Especially under time pressure – for instance during short-notice heatwaves – other solutions are needed.
Evaporative Air Coolers as a Modern Alternative to Air Conditioning
This is where mobile cooling units using evaporative cooling come in. They meet the requirements of the Heat Protection Ordinance and offer decisive advantages:
- Noticeably cooler feel – perceived like a temperature reduction of 4–15 °C
- Fresh air supply instead of recirculated air
- No conversion, no installation necessary
- Also works with open gates & windows
- Significantly lower electricity consumption (up to 80% less than air conditioners)
- Mobile, flexible & ready to use immediately
- Compliant with the law according to the Heat Protection Ordinance
GoodCooling: Sustainable Heat Protection for Businesses
With GoodCooling, companies opt for an ecological, economical and legally secure solution against heat in the workplace. The technology is based on natural evaporative cooling – entirely without chemical refrigerants.
- Sustainable cooling with low energy consumption
- Ready to use immediately – even at short notice
- Scalable solutions for small & large areas
- Support in drawing up a heat protection plan
- Aligned with recommendations from the WKO, AUVA & the Ministry of Social Affairs
Conclusion: Sustainable Heat Protection Is a Must – Modern Cooling Units Are the Future
The new Heat Protection Ordinance marks a decisive turning point for companies in Austria. Heat in the workplace is no longer an exceptional situation but a plannable, legally regulated risk that must be actively addressed.
Modern cooling units based on evaporative cooling offer a forward-looking alternative to air conditioning. They enable a noticeable temperature reduction, improve the indoor climate through fresh air supply and are at the same time energy-efficient, mobile and ready to use immediately.
With GoodCooling, companies choose not just a product but a holistic heat protection concept: ecological, economical and flexibly scalable. Whether production hall, workshop, restaurant or outdoor event – the solutions can be adapted individually and implemented at short notice.
Companies that act now gain not only legal certainty but also a clear competitive advantage.
