In short
- Start with the user, not the floor plan.
- A good putting green space has an internal lock, washing facilities, a small fridge, and a comfortable chair.
- Avoid the four common mistakes you’ll notice within the first week.
The law tells you what a nursing room should be: lockable, hygienic, with washing facilities. What the law doesn’t tell you is how to create a space where someone feels comfortable spending two hours a day, three months in a row. That difference shows in how it’s used.
Below is the practical breakdown: which dimensions work, what must truly be included, what you’re better off without, and the four mistakes you’ll spot within a week. Looking for legal requirements first? Those are in putting green room requirements.
Start with the user, not the floor plan
A pumping session lasts fifteen to thirty minutes and happens two to three times per workday. During this time, someone must: lock the door, put down belongings, loosen clothing, pump, spill milk and cool it, wash materials, freshen up, and return to work.
This is a series of actions, not a ‘just sit there’ process. Every step you forget to set up, the user solves herself — usually by dragging something from her desk. That’s exactly the signal you wanted to avoid.
Dimensions: what fits and what works
There is no legally prescribed minimum area for a putting green space. However, general regulations for workspaces apply. In Belgium, the Code specifies a minimum height of 2.5 meters, at least 10 m³ of air volume, and 2 m² of free surface area per employee present. In the Netherlands, the standard is open-ended: the space must be suitable and closable, with a bed or rest bench.
The measurements below are practical guidelines based on what works in practice — not legal minimums.
| Surface area | What fits inside | Suitable for |
|---|---|---|
| 1.5 – 2 m² | Chair, small table, power outlet, hook | Absolute minimum. Only works if washing and cooling facilities are nearby |
| 2.5 – 3 m² | The above, plus a sink and mini-fridge | The practical standard for most offices |
| 4 – 6 m² | The above, plus a rest bench or armchair and storage space | Comfortable and immediately usable as a recovery space |
Below 2 m², it becomes cramped when someone has a bag, a putting set, and a jacket with them. Above 6 m², you mostly buy empty space, unless you intentionally use the space for dual purposes.
The layout in practice
Three principles that make the difference between a space that works and one that’s always full:
- Don’t place the chair directly across from the door. Even with a lock, no one wants to sit facing the doorway. Position the chair at a right angle or with its back to the door.
- Work surface at seat height, on the side. Pumping set, phone, glass of water—everything within easy reach without standing up.
- Sink and cooling near the door. These are the actions at the beginning and end; they don’t belong in the area where you sit.
What must truly be included
The list below is built from what is legally required, what proves indispensable in practice, and what makes the difference between functional and pleasant.
Legally required
- A lock that works from the inside. No sign, no curtain, no "occupied" slide. A real lock.
- A washing facility. Explicitly required in Belgium within the room itself (Codex art. III.1-62). In the Netherlands, it follows from the hygiene requirement. A sink in the hallway is a compromise, not a solution.
- Option to store milk hygienically. A small fridge of its own. Not the kitchen fridge next to the sandwiches.
- A seating area. In the Netherlands, this is more specific: a bed or rest bench, as the same regulation also applies to pregnant employees.
Indispensable in practice
- An electrical outlet at seating height. Sounds trivial, but it’s not: an electric kickboxing bag needs power, and an outlet at floor level behind a cabinet means cables on the floor.
- Ventilation. A closed space of a few cubic meters exceeds the CO₂ limit during a half-hour session. The Codex typically requires staying below 900 ppm, or at least 40 m³ of fresh air per hour per person.
- Dimmable lighting. Harsh fluorescent lighting directly overhead doesn’t help anyone relax — and relaxation in a nursing room isn’t just comfort, it’s functionality.
- Hooks and a designated storage spot. For jackets, bags, and clothing. Without these, they end up on the floor.
What makes the difference
- An armchair. Pumping is something you do with your hands; armrests are no luxury.
- A mirror. To check if you look presentable again before leaving. Small effort, big difference.
- A trash bin with a lid.
- A clock or timer. So you don’t have to keep checking your phone.
- Spare parts. A set of kickboxing accessories, cooling elements, and storage bags. For the day someone forgets something.
What you’re better off without
- A window without a screen. If there’s a window, hang something in front of it that can close completely.
- Glass walls, even with film. Frosted glass doesn’t feel private. Opt for solid material.
- A dual-purpose space with a bookable area. See below — this is the most common mistake.
- Motion-sensor lighting that turns off when you’re still. Sounds like a joke, but it happens regularly.
The four mistakes you’ll notice in the first week
1. The space is bookable
If the nursing room is listed as a meeting room in the booking system, it will be occupied when needed. And nursing doesn’t follow a schedule: the need arises spontaneously, not according to an agenda. Make the space permanently available, or prioritize nursing with a firm commitment.
2. The space is too far away
Walking back and forth twice a day to the other side of the building quickly adds up to 20 minutes daily. With multiple floors, accessibility matters more than size: two smaller rooms close to workstations work better than one spacious one on the ground floor.
3. Nobody knows the space exists
This happens more often than you think. The space exists, but it’s not documented anywhere, and no one asks for something they don’t know is there. Add it to the onboarding document, the intranet, and the floor plan near the elevator. Cost: zero.
4. Cleaning staff are unaware the space exists
A nursing room that isn’t explicitly included in the cleaning contract falls between the cracks: it’s neither a workspace nor a sanitary facility. After three weeks, it’s avoided. Include it in the contract with daily frequency.
Multiple functions in one space: is that possible?
Yes, but not with everything. The rule of thumb: a nursing room can be shared with functions that also require privacy and quiet, not with functions that demand availability.
| Combine with | Does this work? |
|---|---|
| Rest area or recovery spot | Yes — same need, same setup |
| Prayer or quiet room | Yes, provided there’s a clear occupancy indicator and sufficient space |
| First aid or sickbay | With reservations — hygiene and availability conflict during incidents |
| Meeting room | No |
| Belcel | No — too small, too often occupied, no laundry facilities |
Combine your functions, then choose a space at the top of the dimensions table and arrange an occupancy indicator that is visible from the outside without needing to knock.
Renovate or opt for a ready-made unit?
If you have a suitable space with a door, an outlet, and the ability to ventilate, renovating it is perfectly feasible. Go through the checklist above, and you’re set.
If you don’t have the space — and that’s usually the case in most offices — a movable unit is generally faster and more predictable. Ventilation, lighting, acoustic damping, and finishing are included, and you won’t need to install any piping. what does a pumping space cost covers the costs.
Our nursing rooms come in three formats, as shown in the table above: compact for offices with limited space, spacious for comfort-focused setups. You’ll also find them in the workspace configurator, where you can see what fits your floor plan. Unsure about location or size? Request a quote, and we’ll help you decide.
The checklist in short
- Lock that works from the inside
- Washing facilities within the space itself
- Dedicated fridge for breast milk
- Comfortable armchair
- Work surface at seating height, on the side
- Outlet at chair height
- Ventilation that does not exceed 900 ppm CO₂
- Dimmable lighting without motion sensors
- Hooks and storage for coats and bags
- Mirror and covered trash bin
- Permanently available, not bookable
- Mention in onboarding, intranet, and floor plan
- Included in the cleaning contract
Frequently asked questions about setting up a nursing room
How large should a putting green space be?
There is no legally prescribed minimum area. In practice, 2.5 to 3 m² works well for a space with a chair, work surface, sink, and mini-fridge. Below 2 m², it becomes cramped once someone has a bag and putting set with them. General regulations still apply: in Belgium, at least 2 m² of free surface area per person, 10 m³ of air volume, and a height of 2.5 meters.
What is the minimum requirement for a putting green space?
A lock that works from the inside, a washing area, a mini-fridge for breast milk, a comfortable chair, and a work surface at sitting height. Equally essential are an outlet at sitting height, ventilation, and dimmable lighting.
Can a meeting room serve as a nursing room?
In practice, this doesn’t work. A bookable space is occupied when needed, and nursing can’t be scheduled. Additionally, a space that also serves as a thoroughfare or meeting room rarely meets the requirement of privacy. Combining it with a rest or quiet room does work.
Why is ventilation so important in a nursing room?
A closed space of a few cubic meters exceeds the CO₂ limit during a half-hour session. The Belgian Code requires that the concentration normally remains below 900 ppm or that at least 40 m³ of fresh air per hour per person is supplied. Without mechanical ventilation, this is unachievable.
Where should you place a putting green space in the building?
As close as possible to the workstations. Walking to the other side of the building twice a day quickly adds up to twenty minutes per day. For multi-story buildings, two smaller spaces near the workstations are better than one large one on the ground floor.
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Last updated on 24 October 2026 by Stijn Belmans
