U.S. to Allow Smoking in Lobbies, Halls, Restrooms

The government modified its smoking regulations for 7,500 buildings nationwide today, allowing the possibility of lighting up in lobbies, corridors and restrooms--areas previously designated off limits to smokers.

In May, the General Services Administration proposed federal building rules prohibiting smoking in general office spaces, auditoriums, classrooms, conference rooms, elevators, restrooms, lobbies, medical care facilities and libraries. Cafeterias were allowed to designate smoking areas.

The new regulations permit smoking in corridors, lobbies and restrooms when “it is not possible to designate a sufficient number of other smoking areas.” They also allow agency managers to decide on different smoking and nonsmoking areas if the building has unusual ventilation or structural problems.

The GSA said the final smoking regulations for government buildings will go into effect Feb. 8, 60 days after publication in the Federal Register on Monday.

GSA Administrator Terence Golden said of the new regulations, “the intent is to protect the nonsmoker” but also to recognize “the right of individuals to smoke, provided it does not impinge unduly on the rights of nonsmokers.”

Golden estimated that of the 2.3 million federal workers, 30% smoke.