

In addition to the buildings themselves, many of the interior items like carpets, walls, and paints were discovered to be hazardous, including off-gassing fumes and releasing chemicals and volatile organic compounds into the air we breathe.

Therefore, double and triple pane windows, heavy insulation, and building wraps were all popular methods used in construction, which led to a restrictive airflow inside. When the first energy crisis stuck in the 1970s, it was common to build homes and workplaces with an aim of minimizing heat and cold. This is because many of the building practices and materials used back then are now found to be hazardous to humans, and the fact that there simply wasn’t enough fresh air being let in. Included in the causes of this condition are:Īlthough more common in older buildings, sick building syndrome isn’t something that just strikes older structures, though it does seem to happen more frequently in those built before the 1990s. There is a range of problems behind sick building syndrome, and these can strike residential homes, offices, and larger workspaces. However, by assessing whether these symptoms improve once leaving the area or home, it’s a good indication that something is causing the problem there. One of the biggest problems with identifying and diagnosing sick building syndrome is that there are so many symptoms, many of which can be linked to other illnesses and conditions. When the indoor air quality is poor because of factors like mold and other toxic chemicals, many of the same symptoms apply. Usually, SBS refers to an issue with a structure or how it’s used that leads to the problem, but it’s common today to find that homes have received the label as well. Whenever someone has spent time in that building and experiences a range of symptoms or health complaints where there appears to be no other cause, it could be contributed to a case of sick building syndrome. This could include their physical wellbeing or even general levels of discomfort, and issues that can affect mental wellness, too.Īny size home can be affected with SBS and it can also be used to describe just one room or zone of a building. Sick building syndrome (SBS) is a general term used to describe situations where people living, working, or spending short amounts of time in a building experience health issues.

Sick building syndrome mold how to#
This guide can show you everything you need to know about sick building syndrome, how to spot it, how to treat it, and where mold comes into the equation, giving you the best possible place to call home.

We want to be sure the homes we’re living in are as healthy and safe as possible for everyone concerned, with the presence of mold and other contaminants threatening this. Otherwise, it can be detected with things like air quality monitors and expert inspections for cases of mold, so there are a few options for how to find it. Sick building syndrome may affect a singular room or an entire zone, with the most obvious symptom being the sick people that inhabit it. How do you detect and fix sick building syndrome Sick building syndrome is a broad term used to describe medical and health issues that occur when time is spent in said building, ranging in severity and symptoms for each individual.Īmong its contributors, mold is one of the biggest problems and an issue that many average households and workplaces deal with today. However, did you know that buildings could also develop sickness that affects its inhabitants, much like we experience illness ourselves? We all know that people can get sick, and it’s usually easy to see from a range of symptoms and them feeling worse for wear.
