What is Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)?
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is an environmentally induced condition which occurs when a number of occupants in a building have a cluster of random symptoms without a specific identifiable cause.
Workers can experience the effects of SBS in just one area of an office or factory; or symptoms may be widespread and experienced throughout an entire building.
SBS has been reported in a variety of settings such as hospitals, schools, industrial units and care homes as well as buildings or homes with carpets, paints and fumes.
The severity of the symptoms increases in line with time spent inside the building but will gradually improve over time or even dissipate when people are away from the building.
The history of Sick Building Syndrome
There are several theories surrounding the discovery of SBS, but it is commonly accepted that it was first identified in the United States in the 1970s, around the time of the energy crisis and the subsequent urgency for conservation. Heating and air conditioning systems accounted for a large percentage of energy consumption in the US at the time, so buildings were sealed to preserve energy.
However, SBS wasn’t officially recognised as a medical condition until the early 1980s when The World Health Organization (WHO) defined SBS as a disease caused by recurrent exposure to low levels of indoor air contaminants.
Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome
- headaches;
- eye, nose, and throat irritation;
- dry, itchy skin;
- rashes;
- mental fatigue and lethargy;
- dizziness;
Causes of Sick Building Syndrome
It is widely considered that a lack of suitable ventilation and poor air quality with a concentration of vapours, gases, solvents, or other airborne agents toxic to the skin, lungs or nervous system, in buildings is a contributing factor to SBS as well as heat, long periods in front of a computer screen and stress, possibly caused by some, or all, of these factors.
Understanding Sick Building Syndrome and treatment
Sick Building Syndrome is indiscriminate and can affect anyone within the ‘sick building’ and many people who have SBS are unaware that their immediate environment is causing health problems, so they continue to work or live inside the building that is the source of their symptoms.
There is still controversy regarding SBS and some are dismissive of the illness; a number of doctors will test or treat sufferers for other illnesses or are suspicious that the sufferer is falsifying their symptoms to obtain paid time-off or, as we are in an increasingly litigious society, claim compensation.
As the health of the sufferer improves after leaving the building, there are often no symptoms to present therefore some doctors will consider the problem to be psychosomatic. SBS does need more understanding when considering building design and the inclusion of ventilation louvres and the welfare of its occupants as well as treatment and diagnosis of the sufferer.
How ventilation louvres can help combat Sick Building Syndrome
Opening a window could help to improve ventilation, however, in situations where this isn’t possible, either because they are safety windows with limited opening and may not be enough to allow adequate ventilation throughout a ‘sick building’ and there is a risk of rain ingress or unwelcome insects entering the building, ventilation louvres should be considered.
They can considerably reduce or completely halt the instances of SBS resulting in fewer sick days and disruption to work. Ventilation louvres assist in maintaining a comfortable temperature and moderating the amount of daylight that gets in, helping to maintain adequate air flow circulation around the building, while simultaneously keeping the internal temperature at the required level.
Unlike open windows, ventilation louvres also prevent rain ingress and strong winds as well as dirt and debris penetrating a building. Most airborne germs thrive in warm, humid conditions, so ventilation louvred structures are essential for any building where the need to supply a cool, well-ventilated environment throughout the summer, as well as the rest of the year, is vital.
Trying to maintain a ‘healthy building’ by opening and closing windows can be time-consuming and cause disruption as well as being a security risk if not closed at the end of the day. Ventilation louvres can avert these problems with the addition of a motorised system taking people and the thought process out of the equation.
It is advisable to not set the temperature too high and avoid triggering wild fluctuations in temperature throughout the day via artificial devices. Air conditioning can be responsible for some health issues. Although they aren’t directly caused by the systems themselves, air conditioning units that aren’t regularly cleaned allow mould and other micro-organisms to grow.
This can exacerbate various health problems, including allergies, asthma and general irritation. Natural airflow is far more beneficial to a ‘healthy building’ and subsequently healthy occupants.
Ventilation louvres maximise natural ventilation on hot days and, when closed, retain heat on colder days meaning reduced reliance on the air conditioning or central heating for artificial temperature control, maintaining a consistent environment for the building’s inhabitants.
Other ways to alleviate the effects of Sick Building Syndrome
- Try to relax and reduce workplace stress;
- Take regular screen breaks if you use a computer;
- Leave the building and take in some fresh air during lunchtime and other breaks;
- Create a fun and enjoyable office environment with comfortable rest areas and stimulating décor;
- Have plenty of office plants – they help to purify the air and are aesthetically pleasing.
