WHAT IS SICK BUILDING SYNDROME?

Ever notice how you feel tired, get headaches, or have itchy eyes while at work, only to feel better once you leave? You might be experiencing Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). SBS happens when people start feeling sick or uncomfortable inside a building, even though no specific illness can be diagnosed.

Common symptoms include:

• Headaches

• Fatigue

• Trouble breathing or a tight chest

• Dry, itchy, or burning eyes and throat

• Coughing or sneezing

• Nausea or skin irritation

These problems usually occur while you’re in the building and improve once you step outside. SBS is often caused by poor indoor air quality, which can come from things like heating and cooling systems that aren’t working properly, limited fresh air, dust, chemicals from office furniture or equipment, or other pollutants floating around the building.

In short, SBS is the building making you feel sick—without any one clear cause—but it’s real, and there are ways to spot and fix it.

MODERN BUILDINGS AND AIRFLOW 

To save energy, many modern buildings are tightly sealed, and ventilation systems often recirculate a large portion of indoor air. Fresh air may not reach occupants effectively, such as when office partitions or furniture block airflow. The problem is compounded by pollutants from furnishings, HVAC systems, office equipment, supplies, and other sources.

SYMPTOMS

• Stuffy nose

• Sneezing

• Dry cough

• Chest tightness

• Sore throat

• Fatigue

• Headache

• Nausea

• Skin irritation

• Burning or itching eyes

Because these symptoms can result from multiple causes, it can be difficult to determine whether SBS is responsible. Identifying the causes of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems is a critical first step.

EXPERT ADVICE TO IMPROVE AIR QUALITY

The Penn Air Group, a national company providing services such as testing and balancing indoor air systems, advocates a multidisciplinary approach to solving building-related illnesses.

Companies can take six steps to improve indoor air quality:

• Consult management regarding any current or past IAQ problems.

• Monitor indoor conditions by tracking carbon dioxide, temperature, and relative humidity at multiple locations using sensors and data loggers to collect continuous readings during a business day.

• Visually inspect air ducts using methods such as fiber-optic technology.

• Physically inspect air-handling units to assess cleanliness, condition, and filtration system effectiveness.

• Perform a pressure profile of the air-handling unit to evaluate system efficiency and effectiveness.

• Inspect for pollutant sources both inside and outside the building using a comprehensive checklist of IAQ causes.