Sick building syndrome - Revision history

Editor at 15:56, 14 December 2020

2020-12-14T15:56:44Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:56, 14 December 2020
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	* Wellbeing.		* Wellbeing.
	* Wellbeing and creativity in workplace design - case studies.		* Wellbeing and creativity in workplace design - case studies.
		+	* When hospital buildings aren’t healthy.

	=== External references ===		=== External references ===

Designing Buildings at 12:56, 20 October 2020

2020-10-20T12:56:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:56, 20 October 2020
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	* Organisation, including display screen equipment work.		* Organisation, including display screen equipment work.

−	~~= Find out more =~~	+	= Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki =
−		+
−	=== Related articles on Designing Buildings Wiki ===	+

	* Building design.		* Building design.
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	* Green Building Supply – [http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/Sick-Building-Syndrome-and-Building-Related-Illness SBS and BRI]		* Green Building Supply – [http://www.greenbuildingsupply.com/Sick-Building-Syndrome-and-Building-Related-Illness SBS and BRI]

−	[[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Design]]	+	[[Category:DCN_Definition]] [[Category:DCN_Guidance]] [[Category:Health_and_safety_/_CDM]] [[Category:Design]]

Designing Buildings at 10:09, 11 February 2020

2020-02-11T10:09:24Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 10:09, 11 February 2020
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	* Ergonomics in construction.		* Ergonomics in construction.
	* Health and safety consultant.		* Health and safety consultant.
		+	* Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people.
	* Human comfort in buildings.		* Human comfort in buildings.
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.

Editor at 18:38, 12 June 2018

2018-06-12T18:38:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 18:38, 12 June 2018
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	* Ergonomics in construction.		* Ergonomics in construction.
	* Health and safety consultant.		* Health and safety consultant.
		+	* Human comfort in buildings.
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.
	* Indoor air quality.		* Indoor air quality.

Designing Buildings at 08:25, 14 October 2017

2017-10-14T08:25:48Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 08:25, 14 October 2017
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	* Indoor air quality.		* Indoor air quality.
	* Indoor environmental quality.		* Indoor environmental quality.
		+	* Locating ventilation inlets to reduce ingress of external pollutants into buildings: A new methodology IP 9 14.
	* Noise nuisance.		* Noise nuisance.
	* Preventing overheating.		* Preventing overheating.

Designing Buildings at 12:07, 9 February 2017

2017-02-09T12:07:35Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:07, 9 February 2017
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	SBS differs from building related illness (BRI) because in the case of SBS, the specific cause is unknown, whereas BRI relates to allergic reactions or infections which can be directly attributed to being in the building.		SBS differs from building related illness (BRI) because in the case of SBS, the specific cause is unknown, whereas BRI relates to allergic reactions or infections which can be directly attributed to being in the building.

−	While SBS is not limited to any particular type of building, it is most common in the workplace and is often found ~~inopen~~ plan offices, schools, libraries and museums. The symptoms may be localised to a particular room, part, or the whole of the building.	+	While SBS is not limited to any particular type of building, it is most common in the workplace and is often found in buildings such as open-plan offices, schools, libraries and museums. The symptoms may be localised to a particular room or part of the buildings, or may be found in the whole of the building.

	= Symptoms of sick building syndrome =		= Symptoms of sick building syndrome =

−	Anyone can be susceptible to SBS. ~~Typically,~~ either a combination of symptoms or one in isolation ~~can occur~~ and may vary from day to day without apparent cause. Symptoms generally improve or disappear upon leaving the building, and different people in the same building may experience different types or levels of discomfort.	+	Anyone can be susceptible to SBS. Sufferers may experience either a combination of symptoms, or one in isolation, and they may vary from day to day without apparent cause. Symptoms generally improve or disappear upon leaving the building, and different people in the same building may experience different types or levels of discomfort.

	The most common symptoms of SBS may include:		The most common symptoms of SBS may include:
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	* Skin irritation.		* Skin irritation.

−	~~SBS can affect anyone, however, the predominant~~ sufferers ~~are~~ office workers in modern buildings with mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems, without opening windows.	+	The largest category of sufferers is office workers in modern buildings with mechanical ventilation or air conditioning systems, without opening windows. There is a higher risk for workers who are employed in routine work using display screen equipment and women are more at risk than men.
−		+
−	There is a higher risk for workers who are employed in routine work using display screen equipment and women are more at risk than men.	+

	= Causes of sick building syndrome =		= Causes of sick building syndrome =
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	* Low humidity.		* Low humidity.
	* Inadequate sound insulation		* Inadequate sound insulation
−	* ~~A high level~~ of noise created by piping or air-conditioning systems.	+	* High levels of noise created by piping or air-conditioning systems.
	* Fluctuations in room temperature.		* Fluctuations in room temperature.
	* Airborne particles such as dust, carpet fibres and fungal spores.		* Airborne particles such as dust, carpet fibres and fungal spores.
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	= Dealing with SBS =		= Dealing with SBS =

−	Building and building services design are associated with many of the factors relating to sick building syndrome, and this can be difficult to address effectively post-construction, requiring ~~that very~~ expensive works ~~are carried out~~.	+	Building and building services design are associated with many of the factors relating to sick building syndrome, and this can be difficult to address effectively post-construction, requiring expensive remedial works.

−	However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has compiled recommendations for employers on how to investigate the possible causes of sick building syndrome: [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg132.htm HSE – How to deal with sick building syndrome]. Advice includes:	+	However, the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) has compiled recommendations for employers about how to investigate the possible causes of sick building syndrome: [http://www.hse.gov.uk/pubns/books/hsg132.htm HSE – How to deal with sick building syndrome]. Advice includes:

	* Employee survey: This can determine the rate of symptom occurrence; identify any obvious causes and possible remedies that can be applied before the situation worsens. Surveys should also be carried out at later dates to ascertain whether the symptoms are persisting.		* Employee survey: This can determine the rate of symptom occurrence; identify any obvious causes and possible remedies that can be applied before the situation worsens. Surveys should also be carried out at later dates to ascertain whether the symptoms are persisting.
	* Building cleanliness checks: Make sure the building is being kept to a good level of cleanliness, that cleaning materials are being used and stored correctly, and so on.		* Building cleanliness checks: Make sure the building is being kept to a good level of cleanliness, that cleaning materials are being used and stored correctly, and so on.
−	* Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system checks: Check the condition and cleanliness of air filters, humidifiers, de-humidifiers and cooling towers. In office environments, a humidity level of 40-70% is recommended by HSE. Also ~~need to~~ check maintenance schedules and ensure they are being followed correctly.	+	* Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system checks: Check the condition and cleanliness of air filters, humidifiers, de-humidifiers and cooling towers. In office environments, a humidity level of 40-70% is recommended by HSE. Also check maintenance schedules and ensure they are being followed correctly.

−	If symptoms persist it may be necessary to ~~undertake~~ a more detailed investigation by a building services engineer or another appropriately qualified consultant.	+	If symptoms persist it may be necessary to commission a more detailed investigation by a building services engineer or another appropriately qualified consultant.

	= Planning and design =		= Planning and design =

−	To avoid potentially expensive remedial woks, sick building syndrome needs to be considered at an early stage during the planning of new building work, renovation or changes-of-use. ~~The following areas are of most critical importance~~:	+	To avoid potentially expensive remedial woks, sick building syndrome needs to be considered at an early stage during the planning of new building work, renovation or changes-of-use. This includes:

−	~~===~~ Building services and internal environment: ~~===~~	+	Building services and internal environment:

	* Air quality, including ventilation, outdoor air supply and air movement.		* Air quality, including ventilation, outdoor air supply and air movement.
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	* Office equipment and furnishings.		* Office equipment and furnishings.

−	~~===~~ Maintenance: ~~===~~	+	Maintenance:

	* Maintenance of the building and building services systems.		* Maintenance of the building and building services systems.
	* Cleaning operations, including office furnishings.		* Cleaning operations, including office furnishings.

−	~~=== Work~~: ~~===~~	+	Operations:

	* Management systems.		* Management systems.
		+	* Tasks undertaken.
	* Organisation, including display screen equipment work.		* Organisation, including display screen equipment work.

Designing Buildings at 15:00, 10 November 2016

2016-11-10T15:00:34Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:00, 10 November 2016
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	* Preventing overheating.		* Preventing overheating.
	* Spalling.		* Spalling.
		+	* TG10 2016 At a glance, wellbeing.
	* Thermal comfort.		* Thermal comfort.
	* Ventilation.		* Ventilation.

Editor at 12:00, 25 August 2016

2016-08-25T12:00:28Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 12:00, 25 August 2016
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	* Building pathology.		* Building pathology.
	* Building related illness.		* Building related illness.
		+	* Building use studies (BUS).
	* Design quality.		* Design quality.
	* Ergonomics in construction.		* Ergonomics in construction.

Editor at 13:53, 19 July 2016

2016-07-19T13:53:37Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:53, 19 July 2016
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	* Building related illness.		* Building related illness.
	* Design quality.		* Design quality.
		+	* Ergonomics in construction.
	* Health and safety consultant.		* Health and safety consultant.
	* Humidity.		* Humidity.

Editor at 15:27, 11 July 2016

2016-07-11T15:27:04Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 15:27, 11 July 2016
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	* Building design.		* Building design.
		+	* Building pathology.
	* Building related illness.		* Building related illness.
	* Design quality.		* Design quality.