Sick Building Syndrome
What is Sick Building Syndrome?
The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) refers to the health effects and discomfort that building occupants can experience that may include headaches, irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat, coughing, dry or itchy skin, dizziness and nausea, difficulty focusing, fatigues, and sensitivity to odors. If you or your occupants are experiencing these symptoms, it is likely that the indoor air quality (IAQ) of the building is poor and that the issue should be addressed immediately.
What Causes Sick Building Syndrome?
Despite its impact, the cause of sick building syndrome for a specific building can be very difficult to determine. This can be very worrisome for those responsible for maintaining healthy and safe conditions for the building’s occupants. However, contributing factors that cause sick building syndrome can include:
Inadequate ventilation: ventilation rates should be set according to ASHRAE recommendations, with at least 15 cfm of outdoor air per person. In reality, many buildings are still providing just 5 cfm per person. Some spaces need a higher CFM to achieve proper IAQ.
Chemical contamination from indoor sources: sick building syndrome can occur due to the chemicals being emitted from inside the building. Pollutant sources can include adhesives, furniture off-gassing, paints, pesticides cleaning agents, and many more. All can emit volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that can have a significant negative impact on health.
Chemical 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. Smoke from wildfires, exhaust from vehicles, smog, and industrial pollution, and much more can quickly accumulate inside.
Biological contamination: Molds, pollen, bacteria, and viruses can all accumulate inside buildings, especially where water has been able to collect. Ducts, humidifiers, and drain pans, ceilings, carpets, and insulation can all be host to biological contaminants.
All four of these sick building contributors may act in combination or may add on to other issues like improper humidity levels and temperature. However, even after a thorough investigation, the exact cause of sick building syndrome may still be unknown. 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.
How to Prevent and Treat Sick Building Syndrome
As mentioned above, it can be very difficult to determine the exact cause of sick building syndrome. As a building manager, you can begin by conducting a healthy building checklist to determine if sick building syndrome is at work.
As part of the checklist, interview your occupants and building employees. Ask if they have been experiencing any of the sick building syndrome symptoms outlined above. Also 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. Determine which year the building was built and look for dirt or dust near air diffusers. Inspect the building’s HVAC system for mold or other microbial growth. Observe whether there are any pervasive odors that do not dissipate over time. If any of these are observed and your occupants are suffering from symptoms, it is likely sick building syndrome is occuring.
The good news is, sick building syndrome can be treated and avoided in buildings where it is already occurring. One of the most effective ways to prevent and treat sick building syndrome is by implementing a commercial air purification system throughout the building. It is vital that the selected air purifier model be of commercial-grade. Commercial purifiers are built with more durable, high-quality components designed to meet the CFM demand of commercial spaces. Residential air purifiers should not be expected to successfully treat sick building syndrome.
ISO-Aire Commercial Air Purifiers Help to Prevent and Treat Sick Building Syndrome
ISO-Aire commercial air purifiers are a powerful and effective way to combat sick building syndrome. With a 99.99% effective, medical-grade HEPA filter, and optional ozone-free bipolar ionization and UVC germicidal radiation, our commercial air purifiers are designed to reduce airborne contaminants and improve IAQ in commercial spaces like schools, universities, businesses, fitness facilities, restaurants, hospitals and much more.
Our purifiers are built with long-life components, from the ECM fan engineered to last over 20 years to the HEPA filter which lasts 6 years- far longer than other commercial air purifiers on the market. This means that our models are incredibly low-maintenance. Furthermore, ISO-Aire purifiers are some of the quietest available, as well as being portable, and durable- built with a tough metal exterior. By selecting ISO-Aire commercial HEPA air purifiers, sick building syndrome would be combatted for years to come, providing the best return on investment (ROI).
Our team of air quality experts are available to help determine which air purifier would be the best choice for you.
Contact our team to schedule a free IAQ assessment or to learn more about our products.
