A Comparative Study on Sick Building Syndrome by Apartment Unit Plan with and without Cross Ventilation

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to examine the effects of different types of apartment unit plan on symptoms related to SBS. The apartment floor plans covered in this study are divided between two types: plans with and without cross ventilation. The major methodology for the study was a survey that used an array of question items selected from preceding research related to SBS and preliminary study. The survey was conducted in August and September 2012 (summer), a season reported to show a higher rate of occurrence of SBS, and surveyed a total of 120 households, 60 households for each apartment plan type. The conclusion drawn from the findings of the survey is as follows. First, SBS symptoms were reported to occur from one and a half to two times more frequently among occupants of apartments without a cross ventilation floor plan than among those with a floor plan allowing cross ventilation. Second, narrow and enclosed spaces with built-in closets, such as entryways or bathrooms, were found to be more commonly associated with SBS symptoms. Even the living room was cited as among the areas associated with SBS symptoms by occupants of apartments with a floor plan lacking cross ventilation. Third, a majority of occupants were found to use ″bake-out″ to reduce the effects of SBS, but their satisfaction with this measure was low. As for ″natural ventilation,″ the level of satisfaction was reported to be higher among the occupants of cross ventilation plan apartments, but relatively lower among their counterparts.