Best practice in prayer space design and management

This guide explores current best practice in creating and managing prayer space for employees. It is intended for human resources and diversity managers, and for buildings managers, developers, fitters, architects and town planners. It aims to flag up some of the potential pitfalls and offers tips for improving the design or use of existing rooms.

Justine Huxley, Interfaith Projects Coordinator at St Ethelburga’s, commented: “We receive more requests for support with prayer space than any other diversity issue. At the moment, no other such resources exist and our project has generated interest and enthusiasm from many different directions. In the City there is a clear demand for greater accessibility of prayer space and we believe that purpose-built space will become more widespread in the future.”

The guide explores various aspects of best practice in the provision of prayer space such as the need to consult with employees over the management of the space, etiquette for users of the room, and sharing the resource between employees of different faiths. It also looks at the design of the space, providing guidance on the location, size, lighting, furniture, washing facilities and other factors that should be taken into account. A series of case studies in the guide outline some examples of best practice. Transport for London have made great efforts to provide prayer rooms even where space is extremely limited such as at underground stations and bus depots. Legal practice Norton Rose LLP provide purpose-built washing facilities within the prayer space consisting of low level sinks with a tiled floor.