THE STUDY OF SBS IN BUILDINGS – IMPACT ON HEALTH AND TECHNOLOGICAL SOLUTION

Abstract

Sick Building Syndrome is a condition whereby occupants of a building experience sicknesses that can be linked to the amount spent in that particular building. The end users experience unhealthy mild or sometimes severe symptoms or fall sick with such conditions as allergies as well as irritations of the throat, eyes, nose and also lethargy and sometimes dizziness Mølhave (1989). Unlike Building-related illnesses (BRI), SBS has no identifiable cause. In 1984, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that 30% of new and remodelled buildings worldwide may have SBS. This study will analyze the severity of SBS in North Cyprus based on different building elements and how they support the development of SBS in a building. Part of the outcome of this work is to develop a framework to test the level of SBS in a residential building by testing how occupants react to the building and demonstrating that building design elements such as orientation, roofing insulation systems, roof installations, and thermal floor masses alter the SBS effect on occupants. The goal is to develop "SBS TEST SOFTWARE" to assist professionals in assessing the SBS level in a building utilizing direct interview software, which can readily identify SBS-prone structures in Cyprus and worldwide. Cyprus’ SBS difficulties can be attributed to several design flaws in building elements, improper ventilation, uneven or inadequate heat distribution, and a lack of moisture-proofing of roof decks, walls, and foundations Obi (2016).