Sick Building Syndrome and how to treat it

What is the Sick Building Syndrome?

In our modern times, a substantial percentage of the population in urban and suburban areas spends most of their days in enclosed spaces. Hence the increasing importance of indoor air quality. 40 years ago data began to be published that reported people who worked in office buildings had been developing headaches, sore throats, and chronic fatigue, among others. In the coming decade, we found these symptoms developing more frequently in hermetic buildings. We came to label these as cases of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). When you are feeling poorly we usually attribute it to the flu or an infection. However, the culprit behind it could be something as innocuous as your building’s heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.

Normally we refer to living beings when we say that someone is ‘sick’. However, the World Health Organization wanted to adapt the term to refer also to housing and work buildings that were harmful to people. A sick building is one in which its tenants suffer from a set of disease and it is fast becoming a worldwide issue.

The diseases and discomforts that can arise from SBS tend to occur, as explained by the World Health Organization, by the rising number of inadequate HVAC systems in buildings that are poorly regulated, or also by air pollution and irritants in enclosed spaces. The culprits are many and they can range from poor ventilation to temperature decompensation, or noxious particles in suspension, or by leaks of chemical gases or even due to common sprays that are used. All of them contribute to making the building and everyone in it sick – both physically and psychologically. This has an impact on job performance and productivity.

People who are affected by this syndrome may develop nausea, spells of dizziness, nasal discomfort, such as irritation, abundant mucous, nasal dryness, congestion or a cough. Eye discomforts are also common, such as irritation, fatigue, stinging and eye redness. Australian Smart Group is here to inform, diagnose and treat SBS.

Diagnosis: SBS

Some cases of SBS will be easy to identify, and others might be much more difficult to diagnose. In a large number of cases, the only warning signs are the discomforts suffered by those who inhabit them.

The International Center for Indoor Environment and Energy estimates that poor air quality from sick buildings increases job losses by 5%. Fighting back and finding a cure for these sick buildings comes out much cheaper than enduring losses on employees. According to the World Health Organization, there are a series of characteristics that are shared among these buildings affected by SBS. Low-quality HVAC systems can be a risk factor due to cross-contamination between the air supply and the air extraction. Lack of maintenance or inadequate design can be a leading contributor towards SBS, especially when the outdoor air quality is low or there is too much air recirculation. Ineffective HVAC systems lead to an inaccurate temperature control throughout the building.

Buildings that are ‘temporarily sick’ are usually new construction or recently renovated buildings. These cases are the least worrisome and easiest to cure, as the damaging effects of the property will disappear over time. The culprit could be something as simple as the materials used in construction still being in the air and have to be expelled by the ventilation systems gradually. Or that the heating, ventilation and air conditioning systems were not properly designed or installed to service the building. Australian Smart Group offers the remedy with our expertise to deliver the best service and solutions.

Chronically sick buildings have harmful effects that endure over time. In these cases, the problem does not come from the construction of the building, but from its deficiencies – either by deterioration or design flaws. A bad ventilation system, inefficient air conditioning equipment or harmful lighting can be important causes that contribute to SBS. It could also be years of intensively abusing the air conditioning systems in the summer, and then in winter, the heating is used for prolonged periods and at too high of a temperature. Sick buildings may be due to other factors like noxious gases that have been emitted through building materials, or it being placed in an area with a high degree of pollution.

Sick buildings can lead to work absenteeism, but it also decreases productivity, since employees usually find themselves ill or unmotivated in the workplace, usually due to respiratory ailments.

In either case, sick buildings may develop due to contaminated indoor air. This can be something as simple as the excessive use of sprays and perfumes. Poor ventilation and poor air renewal can also be easily remedied. The building might have air conditioning or heating systems placed in inconvenient places. Another contributing factor might be the absence of natural light, compensated by an excess of artificial lighting. Whatever the cause or symptoms Australian Smart Group can confidently diagnose and treat Sick Building Syndrome.

ASG has the cure

The heating, ventilation & air conditioning plays a very important role in all buildings, but it is particularly important if we take into account that an inadequate HVAC system is one of the leading causes of SBS. To accurately diagnose and treat your building, it is best to leave it to professionals, like our expert team of technicians at ASG.

In many cases, SBS can be easily remedied with some changes in the building. At ASG we firmly believe that automation is the cure for treating all future cases of SBS. By integrating expertly designed automated HVAC systems would guarantee a healthy working environment for all tenants in the future. ASG offers a customised system that is suited to a building’s unique profile. Equipment that recovers heat and minimises the use of climate control systems is also a good help. ASG also offers tailored design and installation of automated lighting controls that can also be greatly beneficial. We ensure that the building takes the most advantage of the natural light.

By having an automated monitoring system you can rest easy. ASG can also provide an inspection service on the HVAC systems, as well as on-site measurements of allergens and any dangerous substances.

Automation endows buildings with an integrated system that manages, facilitates and reduces costs through state-of-the-art maintenance thus improving the quality of life of its tenants. Through an automated HVAC system alone you can achieve up to 30% reduction of maintenance costs thanks to the preventive control. The remote control allows for easy maintenance, considerably improving the comfort of the occupants. By opting for an automated and integrated HVAC system you are guaranteed an accurate control of air quality, temperature and degree of humidity and therefore of avoiding the dreaded sick building syndrome.

The poor quality of indoor air has easy, viable and cost-effective solutions when you count on Australian Smart Group. We deliver sustainable building automation that will dispel any future symptoms of SBS developing in your building. We combine sustainability and energy efficiency in Smart Buildings and Smart Homes.

Contact ASG today to find out if you’re building is sick and how to remedy it!

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