As public health regulations have evolved, smoking in public places has become increasingly restricted. Vaping has introduced a new dimension to an old topic, and even though it is very similar to smoking, it has technically been treated quite differently, with new legislation only now starting to catch up. This means that when we are talking about smoking, we still primarily focus on regular cigarettes. Even though smoking shelters can be used as vaping shelters, there is no legal requirement for vapers to use them as they still have relative flexibility to where they can vape.
The need to accommodate smokers persists, and employers and commercial and public buildings should do so in a way that is both respectful and compliant with legislation. The latter is crucial—especially in shared spaces such as parks, transit hubs, and workplaces. Smoking shelters offer a practical solution, providing designated areas for smoking without compromising the comfort and well-being of non-smokers. When well-designed and strategically placed, they help maintain cleaner, more organised, and more pleasant public environments. But how do you balance comfort with the law?
Supporting Compliance with Smoking Legislation
In the UK, laws prohibit smoking in enclosed or substantially enclosed public and workspaces. This has led to the growing adoption of smoking shelters. Before investing in one, people typically have a very important question: Are there any specific legal requirements for them? The answer is that smoking legislation does not talk specifically about smoking shelters – no description needs to be matched or a set list of requirements to follow. However, smoking shelter designs need to be not fully or substantially closed. This is the one non-negotiable rule, which is often summarised as “the 50% rule“, which means that for a compliant shelter, you need permanent openings, which need to be 50% of the shelter. Doors, windows and anything else that can be kept shut do not count as they can be closed and reduce ventilation, defeating the 50% open space rule.
This is the only compulsory requirement; other than that, the design should aim to provide as much comfort as possible while adhering to the rules. By offering compliant spaces, organisations can avoid fines while demonstrating a commitment to public health and responsible management and treating their smoking staff or clients well.
Enhancing Comfort and Practicality
If you adhere to the rule outlined above, your design can be flexible with many of the shelter’s other aspects. However, we think it is good practice that a smoking shelter should be more than just functional—it should provide a comfortable and protected space for users. In locations such as transport interchanges, retail parks, business premises or public recreational areas, a shelter helps manage where smoking occurs while offering shelter from the wind and rain.
You can go with the bare minimum and install a simple small smoking canopy, but if you value your visitors, customers, and employees, you should look further and think about providing additions like seating and ashtrays and consider more complete models like our Ruby Smoking Shelter, for example. These are by no means luxuries but rather bare necessities to encourage use, proper waste disposal, reduce litter, and maintain cleaner grounds. You may also want to include light for increased security and comfort during the darker hours and clear signage within these areas to enhance usability further.
Respecting All Users of Public Spaces
Balancing compliance and comfort for smokers is our main topic; however, installing a smoking shelter is a way of respecting the rights of smokers as well as non-smokers and catering to their comfort, too.
By clearly defining areas where smoking is permitted, smoking shelters help preserve the comfort of non-smoking members of the public. This is especially important in family-friendly or high-footfall spaces such as shopping centres, schools, hospitals, and parks. Keeping smoke away from entrances, pathways, or communal areas improves the overall atmosphere and supports healthier environments, which everyone will appreciate equally.
Improving Organisation and Appearance
Beyond health and legal considerations, smoking shelters play a vital role in improving the overall organisation and aesthetic of public and commercial spaces. Well-designed, thoughtfully positioned smoking shelters can help create a more controlled, tidy, and visually pleasing environment.
By designating a specific place for smoking, shelters prevent informal gatherings near entrances, stairwells, or walkways—areas that are often unsightly or uncomfortable for non-smokers when used inappropriately. The enforced separation helps avoid unpleasant smells and secondhand smoke exposure and reinforces an atmosphere of professionalism and order, especially in corporate or customer-facing settings.
Modern smoking shelters are available in a wide range of designs and finishes to suit different architectural styles and settings. Whether you prefer minimalist, contemporary structures or more robust industrial models, shelters can be powder-coated in a variety of RAL colours to match existing site features or corporate branding.
Ultimately, an attractive and well-maintained smoking shelter doesn’t just meet a regulatory need—it sends a message. It shows that the organisation values thoughtful design, cares about user experience, and takes a proactive approach to managing shared public space.
Smoking shelters play a valuable role in managing the practical needs of smokers while supporting wider goals of cleanliness, safety, and compliance. When carefully implemented, they help strike a balance—accommodating personal choice without compromising the shared comfort of public areas.
While regulations primarily focus on ensuring shelters are not enclosed, thoughtful design can enhance functionality, cleanliness, and respect for both smokers and non-smokers alike. By investing in well-placed, compliant shelters that are also comfortable and practical, organisations demonstrate responsible site management, foster inclusivity, and contribute to more pleasant, organised public environments.
We offer a variety of durable, regulation-compliant smoking shelters suitable for councils, transport operators, educational institutions, and commercial sites. By investing in the right infrastructure, you can create public spaces that are cleaner, safer, and more inclusive for everyone.