In 1973 due to the energy crisis, national energy policies were implemented to reduce the amount of outdoor air ventilation required for buildings. This strategy was intended to prevent conditioned air (air which has been heated or cooled) from escaping through the building’s ventilation system. These changes in building code brought on symptoms later classified as sick building syndrome.

The new policies also brought to light problems with indoor air pollution which were directly related to the change in building ventilation standards. It was concluded that the required decrease in ventilation “did not support the health and comfort of building occupants”.

The problem, however, continued given that in 1984, the World Health Organization reported indoor air quality complaints in approximately 30% of new and remodeled buildings worldwide. Therefore, the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) has since increased its ventilation standard to directly improve indoor air quality. So what signs of sick building syndrome should you be aware of?

Symptoms

The health symptoms found within a sick building may include headaches, burning eyes, nasal congestion or respiratory difficulties. Occupants may also complain of fatigue, dizziness or nausea. These symptoms are generally shared by all occupants and usually disappear when the person leaves the affected building with no apparent cause of the illness. If SBS symptoms are not addressed in the early stages, acute discomfort may result. If there are a number of occupants in a particular room, zone or building who all share the same complaints, you may want to consider bringing in a specialist to perform a building investigation to identify proper ventilation levels, test your heating and cooling equipment and spot other problem areas.

Sources: www.epa.gov; www.ashrae.org