What is Sick Building Syndrome?
Indoor air pollution problems don’t only happen in homes. The environment in office buildings may cause some health problems. Even though most can be treated, some pose serious risks. Sometimes, people have symptoms that do not fit the pattern of any illness and are hard to trace to a source. This problem has been labeled “sick building” syndrome. People may suffer from one or more of these symptoms: • dry or burning in nose, eyes, and throat • sneezing • stuffy or runny nose • fatigue or feeling tired or sluggish • headache • dizziness • nausea • feeling irritable • being forgetful There is no single way in which these health problems appear. In some cases, problems begin as workers enter their offices or office buildings and go away as workers leave their offices or office buildings. At other times, symptoms continue until the illness is treated. Sometimes, there are even outbreaks of illness among many workers in a building.
The term ” sick building syndrome ” (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.The following have been cited causes of or contributing factors to sick building syndrome:1. Inadequate ventilationIn an effort to achieve acceptable Indoor Air Quality or IAQ while minimizing energy consumption, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently revised its ventilation standard to provide a minimum of 15 cfm of outdoor air per person (20 cfm/person in office spaces). Up to 60 cfm/person may be required in some spaces (such as smoking lounges) depending on the activities that normally occur in that space.2. Chemical contaminants from indoors sourcesMost indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building.
The term ” sick building syndrome ” (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.The following have been cited causes of or contributing factors to sick building syndrome:1. Inadequate ventilationIn an effort to achieve acceptable Indoor Air Quality or IAQ while minimizing energy consumption, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recently revised its ventilation standard to provide a minimum of 15 cfm of outdoor air per person (20 cfm/person in office spaces). Up to 60 cfm/person may be required in some spaces (such as smoking lounges) depending on the activities that normally occur in that space.2. Chemical contaminants from indoors sourcesMost indoor air pollution comes from sources inside the building.
