Sick Building Syndrome: what is and how we can avoid it?

Feliu not only helps you to sell or rent offices: we care about your health.

There are nearly 6,000 described diseases. In the real estate sector the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) should occupy experts in Facility Management because they have to indicate what solutions are the proper ones and the blog risponsibles who have to explain desease main points. 

It was an easy solution to head today's article: "people get sick, buildings do too"... easy and false at least in the context of SBS. We will explain why: a building with SBS does not have any structural pathology, those who get sick are its inhabitants. It is therefore misleading to speak of a "sick building". It is therefore misleading to speak of "sick building". 

However, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls the syndrome that way "Who are we to contradict this UN-agency?

The 'buildings affected' by SBS may be:

Temporarily sick: in these buildings the materials used in their construction are still in the air and have to be expelled by the ventilation systems gradually.

Always sick: in them, the problem comes from deterioration or design mistakes. A bad ventilation system, inefficient air conditioning equipment or poor lighting can be SBS important causes. Also using air conditioning systems too much in summer and then heating in winter.

The WHO defines SBS as the: "simultaneous existence of symptoms in a group of people (between 15 and 20% of those in the building) with general manifestations, in mucous membranes and skin". 

SBS is caused by toxins presence in the air of the affected building: radon gas, carbon dioxide, dust, volatile chemicals or aerosols. In addition to high concentrations of static electricity that causes adverse reactions other than those caused by inhaled contaminants. We will begin with two optimistic truths. 

On the one hand, the effects disappear relatively quickly when those affected leave the affected building. On the other hand, architects and health professionals know how to eliminate them. 

The SBS can manifest itself in a multitude of symptoms: respiratory affections, cutaneous affections, semicircular lipoatrophy (photo 2 describes the risk factors of this disease), fatigue, headaches, nausea, etc. 

The affected buildings share five characteristics:

1. They are modern: they incorporate glass and steel on the outside to give a light impression and let a lot of light pass through. Although we do not want to make negative remarks on any type of building, the truth is that the are usually offices or corporate headquarters

2. They don't have any ventilation type: their windows cannot be opened. This constructive choice makes the lack of air circulation a serious problem that triggers the SBS. In this case the oxygenation of the space depends on a system of air intakes from the outside. 

3. They have textile materials as insulators inside: as they have synthetic components they poison the air (carpets, certain types of curtains etc.)

4. They are not ecological: although some save energy they do not worry about avoid toxic materials or compounds accumulation such as: radon gas, glues, manufactured woods in decoration or technical floors.

5. They have a homogeneous thermal environment: the cocktail of this with the airtightness makes the spaces very watertight and the effect of the toxins reconcentrated in its interior very intense.

How to solve the problem?

It is worth to repeat that SBS will only happen if a fifth of workers suffer from its symptoms. So, it is not enough that someone sometimes experiences some scattered symptom. 

1. Are you the Human Resources responsible ? Involve the whole company in the problem. They will thank you for taking care of their health. Establish work procedures to prevent the different parts of people's bodies from continuously exerting pressure on the  furniture edges and, especially, the work table.  

2. Ventilate through windows: the presence of toxins inside the building is drastically reduced

3. Know the recommended temperature and relative humidity: between 21 and 24ºC with a relative humidity of 30 to 50% will be reasonable values for the interior space 

4. Prevent the artificial building ventilation systems from spreading pollutants: check that the air intakes are in the right places and dismantle the ventilation devices to clean them thoroughly

5. Hunting the Radon Gas: Radon gas is a radioactive element present in nature and indoors. The WHO below indicates how to reduce its presence:

"Improving the ventilation of the floor; by installing a mechanical radon extraction system in the basement, floor or sill; preventing radon from leaking from the basement into the rooms; sealing the floor and walls; and improving the ventilation of the house.

Passive mitigation systems can reduce indoor radon levels by more than 50%. If you also use a radon ventilation system, those levels can drop even lower.

6. Clean regularly the carpets and other surfaces that may accumulate pollutants

7. Design air renovations in workplaces at least 7 to 10 litres per second per person in general spaces or 12 to 18 litres per second per person in meeting rooms

8. Fight against static electricity: behind semicircular lipoatrophy there is static electricity excess in sick buildings. We work surrounded by computers which are devices based on electricity and with powerful electromagnetic fields.

For this reason: 

• Eliminate chairs with metal legs or metal filing cabinets (metal is a superconductor).
• Provide tables with wide and rounded edges so that the contact surface is larger while you avoid sharp and narrow edges. Tables are charged with static electricity so the more surface area there is, the less it will accumulate. In short, the work spaces must take up more space, taking advantage of the fact that the anti-covid-19 measures demand the same
• Avoid the influence of the electrical installations on the metal structure of the work tables, improving the electrical insulation of the wiring with respect to the metal structure of the table and connecting it to the protective earth of the electrical circuit (the technical floor is not recommended).  
• Reduce friction and pressure surfaces: static electricity due to friction also resides in us (when walking, sitting...), and when the human body (thigh) is in contact with the edge of the tables, electrostatic discharge is produced. It is also necessary to diminish the pressure exerted by the office chair or a drawer unit too close to: thighs, knees and forearms. As shown in photo two, when we are sitting in front of the computer, our arms are a "highway" for static electricity (on another scale this is what happens with the dryer and the person on a wet floor: don't do it is deadly). 

9. Put in filters for volatile chemicals and fumes: these stop, in addition to the above, the dust that carries mites and bacteria. If you think about purifying the air before a high concentration of a pollutant is harmful.

10. Put on an anti-fungal insulation coating: fungi thrive mainly in dark, damp places, regardless of temperature. On the outside of the ventilation system, an anti-fungal insulation coating is usually placed.  

11. Beautify the office with carbon dioxide-absorbing plants: in 2019 we explain how to reduce pollution indoors.

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