The design and management of the indoor environments of buildings should foster ‘‘health and wellbeing’’. Buildings affect the health of occupants in many ways, for example, through building related illnesses, sick building syndrome and allergy, and environmental health problems. The principal causes of sick buildings in the majority of cases are related to microbial effects and emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and formaldehyde from building materials or products used in buildings. Lighting and inadequate ventilation, particularly in airtight buildings are also important factors. New and refurbished buildings where there has been inappropriate use of materials could lead to high indoor concentrations of VOCs and formaldehyde, odours, and adverse effects on occupants. Indoor air quality management and investigation of sick buildings are complex issues, requiring multidisciplinary investigations and environmental monitoring. This paper considers the requirements for investigation of sick buildings with a particular focus on emissions of VOCs and formaldehyde in indoor environments, including examples of the causes and odour effects. Some guidelines for assessment of exposure risks are also included.

This paper considers the requirements for investigation of sick buildings including some guidelines for assessment of exposure risks with a particular focus on dampness, proliferation of moulds, and dispersion of fungal spores in indoor environments. Building pathology, indoors air quality management and management of bio-deterioration, and health problems in buildings are complex issues requiring multi-disciplinary investigations and environmental monitoring. Lack of maintenance, chronic neglect, and building defects leading to water ingress, condensation, and dampness in the building fabric will often produce proliferation of pathogenic toxic moulds, and other microbial and biological effects that could cause allergic response in sensitive people and generally lead to ‘‘sick buildings.’’ A general guide has been provided by this paper for environmental assessment of toxic moulds in indoor environments, including a suggested guideline for assessing the threshold levels for fungal spores in indoor air.

This paper provides a review of the building environmental schemes for rating of indoor air quality which could have an important impact on health and wellbeing of occupants in sustainable homes and buildings. The majority of the building environmental assessment schemes introduced in different countries of the world are based on the BREEAM and LEED model. BREEAM has a major emphasis on energy efficiency whereas ‘‘Indoor Environmental Quality’’ and ‘‘Health and Wellbeing’’ are the most central issues for LEED. The criteria included in BREEAM, LEED and HK BEAM rating systems for assessment of indoor air quality (IAQ) are illustrated. There should be an IAQ management plan for any housing or building development, which should include a certification of the IAQ of the living spaces prior to occupancy and that low emitting materials should be used in the new build. There should also be an ongoing maintenance of the ventilation and HVAC system for the building and this should be part of an IAQ management plan for the building operation and maintenance.

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This study investigated the effects of indoor lighting on occupants' visual comfort and eye health and to contribute to the management and maintenance of buildings. The illuminance of the working plane and windows at Samsung Corporation Headquarters were measured, and 2744 healthy occupants of Samsung Corporation were surveyed regarding the indoor lighting environment via the company's intranet for 1½ years. This building was certified with the highest ranking by Korea's Green Building Council. The cumulative data reflected the management and maintenance of the building, such as screen-type shading devices automatically controlled by seasons and time, improvement of visual display terminal glare by the veiling reflection on monitors, efficiency of artificial lighting arrays, and so on. The data were analysed for occupants' visual comfort and eye health. The result showed that daylighting could improve the occupants' psychological health and productivity. The screen-type shading device could intercept direct sunlight and reduce annoyance glare. However, the indoor lighting and visual environment of the building were poor. After examining the questionnaire feedback concerning improvements, the occupants' annoyance ratio was significantly reduced, and approximately 5% of the occupants' annoyance ratio was deemed to be caused by personal characteristics related to the lighting of the environment.