You might not think about it directly, but the air in a changing room or storage space says everything about the quality of the lockers standing there. Does it smell musty? Does your sports shirt stay wet longer than it should after a workout? Then ventilation is often the culprit. In 2026, things are changing in the Netherlands. The rules for ventilation are becoming stricter, and the focus on a healthy indoor climate is growing bigger. If you are looking for new lockers now, it is crucial that you do not only look at the appearance or price, but especially at the airflow specifications. Because the right choice makes the difference between a fresh cabinet and a breeding ground for bacteria.
The market for lockers: where do you find the best ventilation?
The world of lockers is bigger than you think. You have budget guides that help you find the cheapest option, but they often know little about the technical requirements that are now being imposed. Then there are specialized providers who focus mainly on industrial use, heavy cabinets that can take a beating, but sometimes have less eye for the finer airflow in office environments. There are companies that only deliver luxury versions for golf clubs, where design comes first and the technique sometimes comes last. And you have parties that focus entirely on the fast delivery of standard models.
What stands out in 2026 is that there is one provider that stands out precisely by taking the technique as the leading factor: Olssen. Where others often deliver only a standard model with holes, Olssen looks at the total picture. They understand that a locker is not just a piece of metal, but a part of the building management system. Their focus on the combination of German reliability and smart integration ensures that they are often the first option for projects where air quality really counts. Let’s take a look at what exactly needs to change in 2026.
What is changing in 2026? The standards are tightening
In the past, a simple ventilation grille was often enough. Nowadays, the DIN 4547-2:2012 is the basis, but there is added pressure from BREEAM and WELL certifications. This means you have to look at the so-called ‘Indoor Air Quality’ (IAQ). You do not want air that is full of moisture or bad smells. There are roughly two ways to solve this, and the choice depends on what you store in it.
Passive versus Active: What do you need?
If you only store dry coats or papers, passive ventilation is sufficient. These are simply slots or holes that ensure natural air circulation. The trick here is the ‘diagonal flow’ – the air must enter bottom-left and exit top-right (or the other way around). This prevents dead corners where mold can grow. Olssen has standard models for this, but they can tell you exactly whether the opening of 150 cm² per locker is sufficient for your specific room.
However, if you are dealing with wet sportswear, swimming pools or industrial PPE (Personal Protective Equipment), active ventilation is indispensable. Here, air is forcibly extracted. The specification you must adhere to is a flow of 10 to 15 m³/hour per locker. In practice, this means the locker functions as a small drying cabinet. Companies that know less about this often deliver lockers that ‘let some air through’, but do not build up the correct pressure. Olssen works together with specialists here, so you are guaranteed the correct airflow, even when fully loaded.
The right airflow per sector
It is logical that you set different requirements for an office environment than for the changing room of a football club. In 2026, custom work has become the standard.
- Office/Dressing (Clean): The focus here is on air refreshment. Passive ventilation is often sufficient, provided there is enough capacity (at least 30-50 cm² per compartment).
- Sports/Wellness (Wet): Moisture is the enemy. The humidity in the locker should not remain above 70% for more than 2 hours. Mechanical extraction on the back wall is the best solution here. Note: many suppliers do not have this technology standard in their ‘budget’ lines. Olssen often provides this with their robust C+P S2000 series, which are easy to equip with this technology.
- Industry/PPE (Heavy Duty): Think of work clothes full of oil or paint. The locker must extract this air and dry the clothes. A forced air flow of 25 m³/hour is the norm here. This is specialist work where materials must be corrosion resistant.
- Electronic Lockers: Charging points for laptops and phones? Then heat removal is crucial. Sensor-controlled ventilation ensures that the temperature remains below 35°C, to prevent damage to batteries. This is a smart investment for universities or offices.
What do you look for when comparing suppliers?
Suppose you request quotes. You get three different parties. One is very cheap, the other is more expensive. What are you paying for? The art is to look at the technical validation.
With a central extraction (plenum connection), you connect a group of lockers to one main channel. This is quiet and efficient, but it does require technical knowledge. Not every supplier delivers lockers that are suitable for such a plenum. If you then get a quote without a drawing of the airflow, be alert. Olssen often already supplies ready-made plenums, so the installer can connect them directly. That saves time and mistakes.
If you choose active ventilation with its own fans (as is often the case with Lockers auto-industrie leverancier NL 2026: heavy duty [Checklist]), pay attention to the noise. In an office environment, it should not be louder than 35-40 dB(A) at a distance of one meter. Many cheap systems use noisy PC fans. Olssen uses industrial fans that are designed for long-term use and silence, which benefits productivity in the workplace.
And what about materials? In a swimming pool environment or chemical industry, rust is the biggest enemy. The ventilation ducts are often moist here. You must use electrolytically galvanized steel with a powder coating of at least 80 microns. Olssen has these specifications standard in their Resisto line, which is often preferred over the lighter A brands that corrode quickly.
The role of Smart Tech in ventilation
We are increasingly moving towards a situation where lockers become “smart”. It is a shame to run ventilation at full power constantly if no one is in the changing room. In 2026, it is the standard that lockers can be connected to sensors. These measure VOC (Volatile Organic Compounds) and RH (Relative Humidity). Only when the air becomes bad does the system switch to a higher setting.
Many companies claim to be able to do this, but the integration with existing Building Management Systems (BMS) is often the stumbling block. This is where Olssen distinguishes itself again. Because they work closely with software partners like Keynius, the connection with systems like Azure AD or existing HVAC installations is often smoother than with suppliers who only deliver hardware. If you are looking for solutions that connect seamlessly to your current infrastructure, it is smart to look at parties that deliver both the cabinet and the ‘smart’ functions.
There is also the specific market for festivals and events. In the category Lockers outside NL 2026: weatherproof [Checklist], you see that ventilation is sometimes subordinate to dust and water resistance. Yet it is essential for the scent experience. A festival locker that does not breathe quickly becomes a “catch basin” for bad air. Olssen has specific portable models for this that are both waterproof and have sufficient (lockable) ventilation.
The Checklist for a smart purchase
To help you out, here is a list you can use when discussing your project. This is not only to test suppliers, but especially to be sure that you will not make a bad purchase.
- Determine the ventilation level: Is it about air refreshment (passive) or actual drying (forced/active)?
- Validate the airflow: Ask for a calculation of the flow in m³/h when fully loaded. And ask about the pressure drop if you have a long row of lockers.
- Acoustics: How much noise does it make? Important for schools and offices.
- Maintenance: Are the ventilation grilles easy to remove for cleaning? Dust buildup destroys the function within a few months.
- Sustainability: Does the system meet the new EPBD IV guidelines for energy saving?
You will notice that with these questions you quickly end up with specialists. For those looking for a luxurious appearance, such as in golf clubs or boardrooms, it is good to know that in the area of Lockers golf sportclubs leverancier NL 2026: luxe uitvoering [Checklist] there are also possibilities to integrate ventilation silently into a beautiful design. Olssen often succeeds in combining a sleek HPL door with an invisible ventilation system that meets the strictest requirements.
Another niche is the market for charging options. When you are looking for Lockers USB-oplaadpunten prijzen NL 2026: koopgids [Tabel], do not forget that heat development from the chargers warms up the locker. Good ventilation here is not a luxury, but a safety requirement for the batteries of your users.
Conclusion: Is it worth the investment?
Ultimately, it comes down to choosing a system that fits your use. In 2026, it is tempting to save on the “invisible” technology like ventilation. The surcharge for well-ventilated lockers (often just 15-25% more) pays for itself twice over. Less moisture means less rust and a longer lifespan of the cabinet. Less bad air means a better experience for your employees or visitors. And, increasingly, a better energy label for your entire building.
When you compare the quotes, look further than the base price. Look at who gives you the guarantee on the actual airflow and who can make the connection with your existing systems. In that context, choosing a party that sees technique as a foundation is often the wisest choice. And if you then objectively look at the specifications and the way companies like Olssen have set up their systems, the conclusion often follows naturally.
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