Could Your Office Have Sick Building Syndrome? Most occupants of buildings that have sick building syndrome don’t realize it. They just know that they leave the office feeling lethargic, ill or with a pounding headache, but never understand why. While many people chalk these symptoms up to workplace unhappiness, the problem may be much deeper. It may not be the job that you’re sick of, it may be the building itself that is literally making the people inside sick. Sick building syndrome is the result of monoxides, molds, and other pollutants lurking behind walls and in air conditioning vents. It’s easy to imagine how molds and mildews can collect in moist air conditioning ducts and in walls where moisture may have collected. When air conditioning or heat is forced through the building, spores and toxins are forced into workspaces and literally cause occupants to become ill. Assessing sick building syndrome If your building has central air and heating ducts, have them checked right away for contaminants. If the HVAC specialist believes that vents may contain molds and monoxides, stop using the central air immediately and rely on portable air conditioners for your cooling source. Portable air conditioners can be rented while you’re vents are being cleaned. You may find that after a day or so of using portable air conditioners that people in the office feel better, brighter, and more alert. If this is the case, that’s a good sign that your building may have succumbed to sick building syndrome. Many companies choose to continue using portable air conditioners even after their central air system has been cleaned, or use portable air conditioners in addition to the centralized system. Get a second opinion if necessary Sometimes an HVAC professional may not find specific evidence of contaminants within the central system. However, if you find that portable air conditioners have made a noticeable difference, you may want to seek a second opinion. Think back to years past or review the buildings maintenance records for instances of leaks or damage. Find out if your building was constructed with asbestos products. There are countless different contaminants in and around buildings, from the mold that has been mushrooming since last year’s water pipe leak to asbestos ceiling tiles. If you can find specific information about potential contaminants, you can lead the HVAC professional to explore a specific region of the building while still depending on your portable air conditioners. How to alleviate sick building syndrome Just brining in portable air conditioners can make a world of difference. Portable air conditioners don’t use the venting system. Instead, the filter of portable air conditioners can be easily routed through a ceiling panel or a wall. As portable air conditioners draw in the air, they filter out the contaminated air and force clean air into the space. Central air conditioners are designed to pull in a specific amount of fresh air per person. Find out from your building’s superintendent how many cubic feet of air your central air is pulling in per minute and divide this by the number of people in the office. If the number is less than 20 cubic feet of fresh air per person, this may be your problem. When using portable air conditioners, open windows to force fresh air into the space. If your building has no outside ventilation and conditions are too severe, you may want to consider moving to a new building. If you’re feeling sick of work, it may not be your job that you’re sick of. Talk to your HR representative immediately to clue them in on the potential problem. Though it’s fairly common, sick building syndrome isn’t something that’s widely understood.

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