A Literature Review of Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome in Office Building Design Environment

Abstract

Building indoor spaces requires constant access to fresh air for occupants’ health, well-being, and performance. Clean breathing air can be achieved through the removal of pollutants from within the building’s interior by ensuring a sufficient outdoor air exchange rate. This review set out to create a clear understanding of recent developments in indoor air quality (IAQ) studies and their relationship to sick building syndrome (SBS) impacts on occupants’ health and well-being, as well as the role architectural design plays in promoting a healthy indoor environment. It also provides support information as well as existing state-of-the-art practices in IAQ and SBS in office buildings, with a particular focus on monitoring, assessment, and space configuration. The information available here would provide building professionals, particularly architects, with the potential for incorporating design and the development of guidelines for the control of SBS-related environmental parameters in order to create a healthy and comfortable office indoor environment.

Sick building syndrome and its impacts on health, well-being and productivity: A systematic literature review

“…8 If the IEQ deteriorates, the risk in the onset of SBS increases and entails financial expenses estimated to be between 10 and 70 billion dollars, only in the United States. 9 Amongst the strategies that can be implemented to reduce these problems are good ventilation, 10 window openings, daily cleaning, 11 noise control, proper temperature maintenance and psychosocial support for workers. 12 In most cases, research has been conducted in work environments 13 highlighting low efficiency, financial losses, absenteeism, 14 decreased productivity, health and comfort.…”

Hubungan Antara Kualitas Udara Dengan Gejala Sick Building Syndrome, Bagaimana Penanggulangannya? : Literature Review

“…SBS baru dapat dianggap signifikan jika lebih dari 20% atau bahkan 50% penghuni suatu gedung mengalami keluhan-keluhan yang telah disebutkan sebelumnya. 6 SBS dapat memicu masalah pernapasan yang bersifat akut dan dapat menghilang jika meninggalkan gedung atau ruangan yang ditempati. Kejadian ini tidak dapat dijelaskan secara jelas sumber dan akibat yang ditimbulkan dari keberadaan manusia di dalam ruangan atau gedung tersebut.…”

“…Penyebab meningkatnya gejala SBS akibat tingginya kelembaban adalah karena kelembaban yang tinggi dapat mendukung pertumbuhan bakteri dan virus. 6 Tingkat kelembaban juga dapat mengakibatkan partikel yang berada di udara menggumpal, dan partikel yang berukuran besar cenderung lebih berpotensi menyebabkan infeksi daripada partikel yang lebih kecil. 9 Ketika partikel udara yang terkumpul dihirup, mereka dapat menciptakan jalur masuk pada saluran pernapasan atas yang dapat menjadi tempat infeksi berkembang.…”