How an Effective HVAC System Reduces the Risk of Sick Building…

How an Effective HVAC System Reduces the Risk of Sick Building Syndrome

October 30, 2023 by Timberline

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) describes sick building syndrome (also called tight building syndrome) this way: “The term sick building syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a situation in which the occupants of a building experience acute health- or comfort-related effects that seem to be linked directly to the time spent in the building. No specific illness or cause can be identified. The complainants may be localized in a particular room or zone or may be widespread throughout the building.”

If the consequences of this condition were limited to comfort-related concerns and less tangible, it would still be vital to address them. However, sick building syndrome’s acute health effects can take a significant toll on employees and the companies that employ them.

The documented consequences of failing to address sick building syndrome include:

• Increased absenteeism
• Decreased productivity
• Reputational damage
• Hiring and retention difficulties

Sick Building Syndrome Symptoms

The first challenge in addressing sick building syndrome is identifying it since the symptoms may be subtle initially. They may often mimic those of colds and allergies, which makes it more difficult to determine the cause.

However, the symptoms tend to intensify and become more widespread over time and, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), can include:

• Nose, throat and eye...