Rank: Guest 
|
Posted By Peter Taylor14
Does anyone have any views or expeiences of sick building syndrome
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jim Walker
New building or fittings it's due to solvents & glues.
Older buildings probably organisms growing in the carpet and the like
Recirculating poor quality or dirty air.
Tackle these and you've covered 90% of issues attributed.
I now await someone to come along and shoot me down.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Smurfer
bang....
add in relative humidity
;-)
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Descarte
tackle issues such as :
Hygiene at desks, people eating at their computers
Using and sharing telephones and even head sets
With solutions such as :
provision of antiseptic wipes for desks, and computer equipment (not monitors)
Air quality, good natural ventilation
Lighting, preference on natural lighting
High moral
Does sick buildiong syndrome exists, more than likely, is it caused by several common factors which can be minimised or reduced sure.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Glyn Phillips
Whilst I agree with previous postings they have concentrated on the physical aspects of SBS. I am no expert in this area, but I did some reaserch on this syndrome many years ago.
It seems that the effects associated with SBS could be attributed to both the physical charasticists of the building, heating, lighting, furnishings, humidity, noise, ventilation etc. and psycological issues.
Whilst I was at college, a national insurance provider opened a spanking new head office locally. Immediately the office was occupied symptoms of SBS were noted (increased absence, sickness, dry throats, headaches, etc).
To cut a long story short, whilst there were issues with the ventilation system causing dry throats and increased sick days taken, the main influencing factors were that the staff felt that they weren't in control of their environment, coupled with the fact that most staff had moved with the company from a previous premises and roles and responsibilities had altered.
The point I am trying to make is that moral was low!
Don't look at SBS as a purely physical issue but take a holistic approach.
Good luck.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Paul Devlin
IM sure there was a case of it few years back where a city council had SBS diagnosed in its main office in town centre location, verdict was either a total refit to tune of something like £30m or new building for half the cost.
It was mainly down to the physical characteristics of the building that have been mentioned i.e ventilation etc.
In summary it is a recognised problem and should be dealt with as such.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Jeff Manion
Have completed many various checks of the years and found many differing things.
Worse case was spec' building with boilers in roof void, also housed air handling plant - sent carbon fumes around building - persons left building had fresh air and then felt good.
Found many faults with maintenance and service of the HVAC system - supposed to be maintained by HVAC company.
Examined fan coil units many VV dirty and unclean therefore bacterial contaminated, air movement poor and persons seemed to suffer from coughs and colds, mould growth found near fan coils - lack of maintenance (may have been cause.
Fire breaks were in position and did not allow air flow through areas therefore hot spots.
Air system not balanced and therefore conditions varied.
Staff were selling and had targets and the internal competition was high, not to hit target was possible sack, this did not assist.
They used head sets - high pressure selling - lead to ear aches and similar conditions.
My report was shall we say "cut and paste" so client was not informed, we had payments delayed etc as the HVAC company were not happy as report criticised them.
Nowadays we use basic approach, check air conditioning and wet decks, complete IAQ checks around location and look for evidence, if ventilated system, if there is something we then may have to go to higher level of survey and look for other potential areas of concern.
JM
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By The toecap
I did my dissertation on this subject. It was very interesting
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ken Taylor
There's a lot to be said for small rooms off corridors, radiators instead of air conditioning and windows that you can open.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Ian Blenkharn
I've done quite a few studies on SBS premises, working on the popular hypothesis that poor maintenance of air conditionning systems and teh resulting heavy contamination of air with fungal elements contributes, maybe causes, the problem.
Cleaning of all a/c pipework, inproving rate of air changes and humidity levels, deep cleaning or replacing carpets (that have been heavily contaminated by a/c fallout) massively reduce the fungal loading of air and have in all the cases I have dealt with, solved the problem
|
|
|
|
|
|
Rank: Guest
|
Posted By Robin
Regarding Sick building syndrome
you could try changing the interiors, Furniture, paint or wall papers add lots of plants and the likes.
Change / check efficiency of the type of central heating and or air conditioning.
However I dont believe in sick building syndrome
What about sick ship syndrome, sick car syndrome or sick areoplane syndrome its all nonesense.
Its nonesense its all in the mind
Just another indication of society heading down the road to Decadence.
People will believe anything if they hear it often enough.
Its rubbish.
Just my opinion by the way
Drummond
|
|
|
|
|
|
You cannot post new topics in this forum.
You cannot reply to topics in this forum.
You cannot delete your posts in this forum.
You cannot edit your posts in this forum.
You cannot create polls in this forum.
You cannot vote in polls in this forum.