Chapter 4 - Sick building syndrome

Abstract

This chapter discusses the problems with indoor air quality arising from many sources in the office environment. These problems are related to complaints concerning comfort, health, and well-being. Potential exposures in indoor environments cause a wide variation in symptoms known as sick building syndrome (SBS). General SBS symptoms and complaints cause no lasting damage to the long-term health of occupants, yet health complaints related to buildings are significant disruptions to the people who experience them on a regular basis. An ideal work environment has no large changes in temperature or humidity and with no odors. However, such conditions are difficult to achieve. The indoor air quality proves to be vital for health, comfort, work, productivity. Avoidance of the potential allergenic, irritative, and toxic effects of the indoor environments should be a primary aim in the design, construction, and use of non-industrial buildings. The chapter discusses the solutions to SBS, which involves education on all the factors associated with the building process.