2/24/2024 0 Comments Sick building syndrome sbsAlso ask your occupants who are suffering from symptoms if they quickly go away (within hours) after being out of the building, as this is a big indicator of sick building syndrome. Ask if they have been experiencing any of the sick building syndrome symptoms outlined above. As a building manager, you can begin by conducting a healthy building checklist to determine if sick building syndrome is at work.Īs part of the checklist, interview your occupants and building employees. How to Prevent and Treat Sick Building SyndromeĪs mentioned above, it can be very difficult to determine the exact cause of sick building syndrome. Because of its difficulty in determining the cause, it is often a better idea to work on treating and preventing sick building syndrome instead of eliminating the cause. However, even after a thorough investigation, the exact cause of sick building syndrome may still be unknown. Ducts, humidifiers, and drain pans, ceilings, carpets, and insulation can all be host to biological contaminants.Īll four of these sick building contributors may act in combination or may add on to other issues like improper humidity levels and temperature. Smoke from wildfires, exhaust from vehicles, smog, and industrial pollution, and much more can quickly accumulate inside.īiological contamination: Molds, pollen, bacteria, and viruses can all accumulate inside buildings, especially where water has been able to collect. All can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can have a significant negative impact on health.Ĭhemical contamination from outdoor sources: Air entering from outside is not necessarily safe to breathe, and air entering into the building can be a source of indoor air pollution. Pollutant sources can include adhesives, furniture off-gassing, paints, pesticides cleaning agents, and many more. Some spaces need a higher CFM to achieve proper IAQ.Ĭhemical contamination from indoor sources: sick building syndrome can occur due to the chemicals being emitted from inside the building. In reality, many buildings are still providing just 5 cfm per person. ![]() Inadequate ventilation: ventilation rates should be set according to ASHRAE recommendations, with at least 15 cfm of outdoor air per person. However, contributing factors that cause sick building syndrome can include: ![]() This can be very worrisome for those responsible for maintaining healthy and safe conditions for the building’s occupants. ![]() Despite its impact, the cause of sick building syndrome for a specific building can be very difficult to determine.
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