UK SAUNA SAFETY CHARTER
Raising standards for safe, well-managed sauna experiences across the UK.
As sauna use grows across the UK, so does the need for clear, practical safety standards that protect guests, operators and the reputation of the sector.
The UK Sauna Safety Charter provides a shared framework for responsible sauna operation. Supporting consistency, professionalism and trust across all types of facilities.
Why a Sauna Safety Charter?
Sauna use in the UK has expanded rapidly, with mobile, beach and commercial sauna facilities now operating nationwide.While this growth is positive, it has not been matched by consistent safety standards.Many operators are working without:- clear operational frameworks
- agreed safety benchmarks
- structured staff training pathwaysThis creates risk. Not only for guests, but for operators, insurers and the wider industry.
What the Charter Provides
The Charter is a voluntary framework that defines what safe and responsible sauna operation looks like in practice.It supports operators in delivering high‑quality, well‑managed sauna experiences by focusing on five key areas:- Operational Safety Systems
- Staff Competence and Supervision
- Facility Design and Maintenance
- Guest Awareness and Behaviour
- Emergency Preparedness
Why it matters
A clear and recognised safety standard benefits everyone:- Operators gain structure, confidence and credibility
- Guests feel safer and better informed
- Insurers and partners see a commitment to best practice
- The sector builds trust and long-term sustainabilityAs the industry grows, establishing shared standards becomes increasingly important.
Aligning with the Charter
Operators can work towards alignment by:- Reviewing their current systems and processes
- Implementing appropriate safety and operational controls
- Ensuring staff are suitably trained and competent
- Maintaining clear documentation and proceduresFurther guidance and structured pathways will be made available.
Charter Principles
Organisations supporting the UK Sauna Safety Charter recognise the importance of the following principles in delivering safe, well-managed sauna environments.
1. Safe Sauna Environments
Sauna facilities must be designed, constructed and maintained to provide a safe environment for guests and staff.2. Operational Safety Systems
Clear operational systems must support safe running of the facility, including:- normal operating procedures
- risk assessments
- emergency action planning3. Competent and Trained Staff
Staff must have appropriate knowledge, training and supervision for their role, including understanding:- how sauna conditions affect the body
- how to support safe guest use
- how to recognise and respond to potential risk4. Maintenance and Equipment Safety
Heaters, structures and equipment must be maintained in safe working condition through regular inspection and timely repair.5. Guest Awareness and Guidance
Guests must receive clear guidance on safe sauna use, including heat exposure, hydration and cooling practices.6. Incident Preparedness
Operators must have defined procedures for responding to incidents, and staff must understand how to act appropriately.7. Respect for Sauna Traditions and Wellbeing
Sauna is a cultural and wellbeing practice. Facilities should maintain its integrity while ensuring environments remain safe, respectful and accessible.________________________The Charter sets out what safe sauna operation should look like.
Further guidance and structured pathways are available to support operators in meeting these standards.
Raising the Standard
The Sauna Safety Charter is a voluntary commitment to safe, consistent and well-run sauna practice.It brings together a small number of clear principles that operators can align with — supporting better experiences for customers, greater confidence for insurers, and a stronger, more trusted sector overall.It is being shaped by operators and designed to work in real sauna environments.
Founding Signatories
YOUR
LOGO
HERE
Sauna operators are already working together to shape the UK Sauna Safety Charter and support clear, consistent sauna practice.
We are inviting a limited number of additional founding signatories to help guide and strengthen this work.
If this matters to you, join us and be part of it.
Sign the Charter
Signing the Charter is a simple way to show your organisation’s commitment to safe, responsible and consistent sauna practice.By signing, you confirm that your organisation:• supports the principles of the UK Sauna Safety Charter
• is committed to safe sauna environments
• operates with clear, responsible procedures
• supports staff knowledge and competence
• provides clear guidance to guestsWe’ll follow up to confirm your support, include you as a Charter supporter, and share supporter badges for your website and channels.
Setting the standard for safe sauna operation in the UK
© UK Sauna Safety Charter. All rights reserved.
Founding Signatory Registration
We are inviting a small number of sauna operators to become founding signatories of the UK Sauna Safety Charter.As a founding signatory, you will be among the first to support and help shape a clear, recognised standard for safe sauna operation across the UK.This is an early-stage, sector-led initiative focused on raising standards, improving safety and supporting the long-term credibility of sauna provision.If you would like to be involved, please register your interest below.
Why the Sauna Safety Charter Exists
The Sauna Safety Charter has come from several years of direct experience of running a sauna and understanding what makes the environment safe, consistent and well run in practice. It’s shown me how powerful the experience can be when it’s delivered well — and how much it depends on good judgement, clear systems and competent operation.It only takes one incident to expose the gaps. When a regular customer told me they’d been burned at another sauna due to poor setup and limited operator knowledge, it highlighted the need for greater consistency across the sector.My background is rooted in over two decades in education, leading on safeguarding, health and safety, alongside volunteering work using my beach lifeguard qualification and as a qualified open water swim coach. More recently, this has extended into social prescribing, and school and community-based wellbeing programmes in sauna and cold water environments.
All of this has shaped a practical, risk-aware approach to working with people in outdoor and higher-risk settings.The Charter is simply a response to that experience; a clear way of setting out what safe, consistent and well run sauna practice looks like. It is voluntary, free to sign, and designed to offer reassurance for customers, confidence for insurers, and clarity for operators themselves.The aim is straightforward: to support the growth of the UK sauna sector in a way that protects people, strengthens trust and raises the overall quality of practice.Jem Wallis
Sauna Safety Charter