Sick Building Syndrome [PDF]

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AP-315 BUILDING SERVICES-IV (MECHANICAL TRANSPORT,BMS,COMMUNICATION AND HVAC)



Healthy Building,



Healthy people



Unhygienic living conditions… Mumbai



Unhygienic living conditions…



Lack of access to shelter…



A future non-existent…



Contextual City : Jodhpur



AP-315 BUILDING SERVICES-IV (MECHANICAL TRANSPORT,BMS,COMMUNICATION AND HVAC)



Healthy Building,



Healthy people



SICK BUILDING SYNDROME



OVERVIEW  SICK BUILDING SYNDROME  CAUSES OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME  SYMPTOMS OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME  SOLUTIONS



Healthy Building-Concept  Healthy building refers to an emerging area of interest that supports the physical, psychological, and social health and wellbeing of people in buildings and the built environment.  Buildings can be key promoters of health and well-being since most people spend a majority of their time indoors.



WHAT IS SICK BUILING SYNDROME ?



SICK BUILDING SYNDROME (SBS) IS USED TO DESCRIBE SITUATIONS IN WHICH BUILDING OCCUPANTS EXPERIENCE ACUTE HEALTH AND COMFORT EFFECTS THAT APPEAR TO BE LINKED TO TIME SPENT IN A BUILDING, BUT NO SPECIFIC ILLNESS OR CAUSE CAN BE IDENTIFIED.



INTRODUCTION: The term "Sick Building Syndrome was coined by WHO in 1986 Sick building" is therefore an expression used especially in the context workplace health.



Sick building causes are frequently pinned down to flaws in the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems.



WHY STUDY HUMAN HEALTH INDOORS?



"SICK BUILDINGS" WERE CONTRASTED AGAINST "HEALTHY BUILDINGS"



INDOOR AIR POLLUTION: "RULE OF ONE THOUSAND"



Indoor air pollutants may be up to 100 times higher than outdoor levels.



A Close-Up Look at the Quality of Indoor Air



CAUSES OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME • BUILDING



SYNDROME



BEGINS



WHEN



VENTILATION DOES NOT OCCUR PROPERLY OR THE AIR CONTAINS ORGANISMS • PROPER LIGHTING IS ABSENT • CHEMICAL PRESENT



CONTAMINANTS



BECOME



SOURCE:viking.coe.uh.edu/~swiggins/powerpoint/sbsprocess.pp



ADD –ON (POSSIBLE RISK FACTORS) • low humidity • high temperature or changes in temperature throughout the day • airborne particles, such as dust, carpet fibers or fungal spores • airborne chemical pollutants, such as those from cleaning materials or furniture, or ozone produced by photocopiers and printers • physical factors, such as electrostatic charges • poor standards of cleanliness in the working environment • improper use of display screen equipment • psychological factors, such as stress or low staff morale



Causes-1



Causes-2



• INADEQUATE VENTILATION



POOR AND INAPPROPRIATE LIGHTING



• CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS



WITH ABSENCE OF SUNLIGHT,



• BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS



• BAD ACOUSTICS,



• ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION



• POOR ERGONOMICS



• PSYCHOLOGICAL FACTORS



• HUMIDITY MAY ALSO CONTRIBUTE TO SBS.



INDICATORS OF BUILDING RELATED ILLNESS  BUILDING OCCUPANTS COMPLAIN OF SYMPTOMS SUCH AS COUGH; CHEST TIGHTNESS AND FEVER.  THE SYMPTOMS CAN BE CLINICALLY DEFINED AND HAVE CLEARLY IDENTIFIABLE CAUSES.  COMPLAINANTS MAY REQUIRE PROLONGED RECOVERY TIMES AFTER LEAVING THE BUILDING



COMFORT LEVELS RECOMMENDED-1  ASHRAE Standards 62-73 and 62-81) reduced required ventilation from 10 CFM per person to 5 CFM per person. This was found to be a contributing factor to sick building syndrome.  The 1989 ASHRAE standard (Standard 62-89) states that appropriate ventilation guidelines are 20 CFM per person in an office building, and 15 CFM per person for schools.  Temperature (dry bulb)19-23°C  Relative humidity (RH) 4o-7o%More than 55% RH is needed in carpeted buildings with under floor heating to avoid electrostatic shocks



Comfort levels recommended-1  TOTAL AIR SUPPLY4-6 AIR CHANGES/H  AIR SPEEDO.1-0.3 M/S. LESS THAN 0.1 M/S CAUSES STUFFINESS. MORE THAN 0.3 M/S CAUSES DRAUGHTS. FOR AIR SPEEDS HIGHER THAN 0.1 M/S,  COMPETENT AUTHORITY RECOMMENDS AN INCREASE IN AIR TEMPERATURE TO TAKE ACCOUNT OF AIR MOVEMENT  SOUND 46 DBA IS THE UPPER LIMIT FOR GENERAL OFFICE WORK  LIGHTINGS 6OO LUX FOR GENERAL OFFICE WORK, 750 LUX FOR DEEP-PLAN OFFICES AND WORK AT DRAWING BOARDS, ETC



INDOOR AIR POLLUTION THE FACT OF THE MATTER IS THAT INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR THE VARIOUS DISEASES LIKE ASTHMA AND EVEN CANCER. IN THE LATE 1970S, IT WAS NOTED THAT NONSPECIFIC SYMPTOMS WERE REPORTED BY TENANTS IN NEWLY CONSTRUCTED HOMES, OFFICES, AND NURSERIES. IN MEDIA IT WAS CALLED "OFFICE ILLNESS". THE TERM "SICK BUILDING SYNDROME" WAS COINED BY THE WHO IN 1986, WHEN THEY ALSO ESTIMATED THAT 10-30% OF NEWLY BUILT OFFICE BUILDINGS IN THE WEST HAD INDOOR AIR PROBLEMS



An overview of SBS contributors and their negative impact on occupants



mitigation strategies as part of healthy built environments.



Flourish Model for healthy buildings. Source: Clements-Croome (2018).



The role of SBS: evolution of building design and development from sustainable, intelligent and healthy design perspectives.



What Causes Indoor Air Pollution?? · Air tightness of buildings · Poorly designed air conditioning and ventilation systems · Indoor sources of pollution · Outdoor sources of pollution Pull outside polluted air from vents, cracks and openings and increase dust, etc. Causes “Sick Building Syndrome”.  Poorly Designed Air Conditioning Systems Results into the production of fungi, molds and other sickness causing microbes.



How can I tell that indoor air is contaminated?



Sniff the air. The nose is the best odor and gas detector, and a good particle detector as well, especially when first entering a contaminated environment.



CAUSES OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME THE BUILDING IS SICK – IT PASSES ON ITS SICKNESS TO US.



CHEMICALS



• CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS ARE PRESENT OUTDOORS. BAD OUTDOOR AIR ENTERS THROUGH HVAC SYSTEMS, WINDOWS AND DOORS. PEOPLE FEEL SICK. • BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS – BACTERIA, MOULDS, POLLEN, AND VIRUSES FROM STAGNANT WATER ACCUMULATED IN DUCTS, HUMIDIFIERS AND DRAIN PANS, OR WHERE WATER HAS COLLECTED CEILING TILES, CARPETING, OR INSULATION. SOURCE:viking.coe.uh.edu/~swiggins/powerpoin t/sbsprocess.pp



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CAUSES OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROM The most common riskfactors believed to contribute to SBS include: Inadequate ventilation. Low humidity. Inadequate sound insulation High levels of noise created by piping or air-conditioning systems. Fluctuations in room temperature. Airborne particles such as dust, carpet fibres and fungal spores. Airborne chemical pollutants such as cleaning products, ozone from photocopiers and printers, carbon monoxide, asbestos and external fumes such as traffic exhaust. Poor lighting. Electrostatic charges. Poor standards of cleanliness. Inadequate display screen equipment, causing glare or flicker. Psychological factors such as stress or low staff morale. SOURCE:viking.coe.uh.edu/~swiggins/powerpoint/sbsprocess.pp



SYMPTOMS OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME



SOURCE:www.socalmultiunitrealestateblog.com/ ?p=1073



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What should be our approach?!!! How do we solve these problems?!!! Can we really do it?!!!



SOLUTIONS OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME • ROUTINE MAINTENANCE OF HVAC SYSTEMS INCLUDING PERIODIC CLEANING OR REPLACEMENT OF FILTERS. • REPLACEMENT OF WATER-STAINED CEILING TILE AND CARPETING. • INSTITUTION OF SMOKING RESTRICTIONS. • VENTING CONTAMINANT SOURCE EMISSIONS TO THE OUTDOORS. • STORAGE AND USE OF PAINTS, ADHESIVES, SOLVENTS, AND PESTICIDES IN WELL VENTILATED AREAS, AND SUE OF THESE POLLUTANTS DURING PERIODS OF NON OCCUPANCY.



SOURCE:www.osach.ca/products/teleconf/SickBuilding.pdf



SOLUTIONS OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME • POLLUTANTS BEFORE OCCUPANCY. • INCREASING VENTILATION RATES AND AIR DISTRIBUTION. • LOCAL EXHAUST VENTILATION FOR REST ROOMS, COPY ROOMS, PRINTING FACILITIES AND DESIGNATED SMOKING AREAS. • AIR CLEANING – CAN BE USEFUL. LIMITATIONS: TYPICAL FURNACE FILTER IS NOT EFFECTIVE FOR CAPTURING SMALL PARTICLES • EDUCATION AND COMMUNICATION WITH BUILDING OCCUPANTS – VERY IMPORTANT. • OPENING WINDOWS TO LET FRESH AIR IN MAY UPSET THE BALANCE OF THE VENTILATION SYSTEM.



SOURCE:www.osach.ca/products/teleconf/SickB uilding.pdf



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WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE? A R C H I T E C T S C A N P R E V E N T T H E I R D E S I G N S F R O M B E C O M I N G H E A LT H H A Z A R D S T O O C C U PA N T S B Y TA K I N G A F E W M E A S U R E S . B U I L D I N G S M U S T B E D E S I G N E D I N R E S P O N S E T O T H E C L I M AT E O F T H E P L A C E . PA S S I V E S O L A R A R C H I T E C T U R E A S I T I S C A L L E D , A R E N O T O N LY E N E R G Y E F F I C I E N T B U T A L S O H E A LT H Y F O R I T S O C C U PA N T S S I N C E T H E Y A L L O W F R E S H A I R A N D N AT U R A L L I G H T T H U S D I S S I PAT I N G T H E B U I L D - U P O F G A S E S I N A B U I L D I N G .



SOURCE:www.enviro-arch.com/article_sick_buildg_syndrome.html



exploiting nature and utilizing nature!



Past guides the future…



SOME BEST EXAMPLES NUMEROUS



EXAMPLES



OF



HEALTHY



OFFICE



AND



INSTITUTIONAL BUILDINGS EXIST IN INDIA - THE TERI OFFICE IN DELHI AND BANGALORE, THE EARTH SYSTEM AND ENVIRONMENT SCIENCE ENGINEERING BUILDING AT IIT KANPUR, SEVERAL OTHERS.



SOURCE:www.enviro-arch.com/article_sick_buildg_syndrome.html



CURE WITH PLANTS THE MECHANISM BY WHICH PLANTS CLEAN CONTAMINATED AIR IS TWOFOLD:1. PLANTS ABS ORB OFFICE POLLUTANTS INTO THEIR LEAVES AND TRANSMIT THE TOXINS TO THEIR ROOTS, WHERE THEY ARE TRANSFORMED INTO A SOURCE OF FOOD FOR THE PLANT. 2. PLANTS EMIT WATER VAPORS THAT CREATE A PUMPING ACTION TO PULL DIRTY AIR DOWN AROUND THE ROOTS, WHERE IT IS ONCE AGAIN CONVERTED INTO FOOD FOR THE PLANT.



SOURCE:WIKIPEDIA



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Keep Your Home Healthy INDOOR AIR QUALITY IS IMPORTANT BECAUSE WE BREATHE ABOUT 5,000 GALLONS OF AIR DAILY AND SPEND 90 PERCENT OF OUR TME IN DOORS. EVERYONE'S HEALTH IS AFFECTED BY INDOOR AIR QUALITY, BUT CHILDREN AND THE ELDERLY ARE AT HIGH-RISK OF ADVERSE EFFECTS. INDOOR AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS CAN BE LIFE THREATENING, SUCH AS EXPOSURE TO CARBON MONOXIDE.



Keep Your Home Healthy Moisture Many activities in the home produce moisture that needs to be removed. Remove moisture by ventilation when outside temperatures are cool and with air-conditioning when outside temperatures are warm.



MOLDS A major problem with excess moisture in the home is mold. Exposure to mold can cause cold-like symptoms, respiratory problems, nasal and sinus congestion, watery eyes, sore throat, coughing and skin irritations, and can trigger asthma attacks.



Dust mites Dust mites are tiny creatures (too small to see) that feed on human skin cells that we shed each day. Mites may cause symptoms such as a runny nose or watery, itchy eyes in allergic people. Keep humidity levels less than 50 percent and provide ventilation to minimize dust mites. Wash sheets weekly in water that is 130 F or warmer. Mattress pads and other bedding also should be washed in hot water..



Bathroom exhaust fan Run the bathroom exhaust fan during and for a few minutes after showers to exhaust the moisture. You should be able to feel air entering the bathroom under the bathroom door while the exhaust fan is running. Keep surfaces dry to prevent mold growth.



Closets The relative humidity of the air in a closet may be at a level conducive to mold growth. Leave closet doors open during very cold weather. Clothes stored in a basement may become musty, particularly during the summer, if the humidity is above about 70 percent. Stored clothes should be clean and dry. Boxed articles will stay wet if they become damp, creating an environment conducive to mold growth.



Furniture Keep furniture away from outside walls to permit air circulation. Cool areas behind furniture will be high humidity areas conducive to mold growth.



Clothes dryer Vent a clothes dryer outdoors. About 5 pints of water are removed per load of clothes. This amount of moisture could cause severe moisture problems,such as mold growth, if vented into the house.



Periodically vacuum the mattress to remove skin fragments that create an environment conducive to dust mites. Special pillow and mattress covers can minimize dust mite exposure. Replace pillows about every five years.



Can carpet make people sick? Carpet can be a source of chemical emissions. Carpet emits volatile organic compounds, as do products that accompany carpet installation such as adhesives and padding. Carpet can also act as a "sink" for chemical and biological pollutants including pesticides, dust mites, and fungi. Opening doors and windows and increasing the amount of fresh air indoors will reduce exposure to most chemicals released from newly installed carpet. During and after installation in a home, use of window fans and room air conditioners to exhaust fumes to the outdoors is recommended .



Can plants control indoor air pollution? Recent reports characterize plants as "nature's clean air machine", claiming that plants remove indoor air pollutants. While it is true that plants remove carbon dioxide from the air, the ability of plants to control indoor air pollution is less well established.In other words, the ability of plants to actually improve indoor air quality is limited in comparison with provision of adequate ventilation.



END NOTES



How to Avoid Designing “Sick” Buildings



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. This includes: Building services and internal environment: Air quality, including ventilation, outdoor air supply and air movement. Temperature, Humidity, Lighting, Noise. Office equipment and furnishings. Maintenance: Maintenance of the building and building services systems. Cleaning operations, including office furnishings. Operations: Tasks undertaken. Organization, including display screen equipment work.



BUILDING BIOLOGY Site status: The building site should be geologically undisturbed. Residential areas should be away from industrial centers and main traffic routes and housing should have sufficient green space and should be in harmony with the surrounding environment



BUILDING BIOLOGY Construction concepts: Natural, unadulterated and nontoxic building material should be used, walls, floors and ceilings should not be susceptible to mold or fungi, the basement should be waterproof and well -ventilated, the earth's natural magnetic field should not be altered or distorted, production, installation and disposal of building materials should not lead to environmental pollution, building activities should not lead to exploitation of nonrenewable, rate resources.



Building biology-2 Interiors:Lighting and color must mix well with the surroundings and not jar the senses, man-made electromagnetic radiation must be reduced as much as possible, interiors should be done by using natural materials without toxic content and should be economically designed, there should be no toxic outgases or harsh smells, indoor humidity should be naturally regulated, air pollutants should be filtered and neutralized, thermal insulation should be balanced with heat retention, use of solar heating should be encouraged, moisture content in new buildings should be low, protective measures against noise pollution and harmful infrasonic and ultrasound radiation must be ensured, natural balance of atmospheric electricity and ion concentration should be maintained



How Can You Turn Your Sick Building into a Green Building? You can start with these steps: Analyze the design and operation of your building's HVAC system and ventilation. Inspect the cleanliness of HVAC equipment and ductwork. Inspect your building for mold. Inspect your building for asbestos and radon, if you haven't already. These are the two most common carcinogenic indoor air contaminants.



Take home message "If we build, design, and operate our homes/office in a healthy manner, we can keep a lot of these problems from getting out of hand."



Is your AC making you sick? Dr Rommel Tickoo, Senior Consultant, Internal Medicine, Max Hospital, Saket and Dr Ajay Aggarwal, Director – Internal Medicine, Fortis Hospital, Noida talk about the hazards that office air-conditioning is causing to our health and what we can do to minimize its impact.



Dryness in skin and eyes Air-conditioners pull out moisture from the air, which helps us stay dry but the downside to this is that that ACs pull out good moisture as well. They leave our skin dry and stretched, which makes it itchy. “ACs are also harmful for our eyes as dryness in eyes can lead to redness, itchiness and can blur the vision,” Dr Tickoo said. What you can do: To keep your skin moisturized, carry a good quality skin moisturizer and apply it whenever your skin feels dry. To avoid dry eyes, you can use easily available eye-drops, which lessen the discomfort. If your skin and eyes are sensitive, it is better that you consult a doctor before buying. Though sitting in an air-conditioned environment makes you forget to have water, make sure that you sip water throughout the day. This will keep you hydrated.



Muscle contractions, headaches Dr Aggarwal said that he often gets complaints from his patients regarding severe back problems, muscle spasms and constant headaches and most of them are young people working in MNCs. He explained that ACs cause pain in the joints and muscles which may become rheumatic pain over a period of time. A more severe situation can even develop into arthritis. What you can do: Always make sure that the temperature of the AC is not below 20 degree celcius. Try maintaining it between 25 degrees and 27 degrees. Make sure that you do not remain in an airconditioned environment for too long. For an eight hour shift, make sure that you go outside at least twice.



Constant fatigue Sometimes called ‘sick building syndrome’, many people feel an unending tiredness owing to staying in air-conditioned offices for too long. Dr Aggarwal blames sudden change in temperature as one of the reasons behind this fatigue. A poor thermoregulation can lead to a constant exhaustion. Also, lack of fresh air can leave one feeling weary. What you can do: Try to stay in a well-ventilated area where air is constantly being refreshed. Do not stay indoors for too long and make sure you go outside at least twice in a normal work day. Also, when you are entering an area with a significant lower temperature, try covering yourself with a stole to avoid direct contact with cold air.



Breathing difficulties When the air conditioners and their ducts are not cleaned properly and regularly, they become breeding grounds for pathogens like fungi, bacteria and moulds. When the bacteria are transmitted through the ACs, they can lead to a range of breathing disorders including coughing, wheezing and breathlessness. Also, “what’s more dangerous is that people continue breathing in stale air such that an infection can easily transmit from one to another,” said Dr Ajay.



What you can do: Make sure that the air-conditioner filters and ducts at your office are cleaned thoroughly at regular intervals. Also, try being in a cross-ventilated area.



Do air-conditioners affect women more than men? ◦ Do air-conditioners affect women more than men?



Recent research has claimed that women feel colder than men at the same temperature, blaming the “sexist” air-conditioning for this. The reason for this discrepancy can be attributed to a lower resting metabolic rate in women. Body size and fat-to-muscle ratios also play a role in keeping the body warmer and as women are generally smaller than men, they tend to feel colder than the latter. Studies have shown that women need conditions to be nearly four degrees warmer than what they are right now.



https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/life-style/health-fitness/health-news/Is-your-office-AC-making-you-sick/articleshow/53958617.cms



THANKS….



AR.MOHD SHOEB ALAM