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 well-
being 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 CONTAMINANTS BECOME
PRESENT 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
• CHEMICAL CONTAMINANTS ARE PRESENT
THE BUILDING IS SICK – IT OUTDOORS. BAD OUTDOOR AIR ENTERS
PASSES ON ITS SICKNESS
TO US.
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,
CHEMICALS
CARPETING, OR INSULATION.
SOURCE:viking.coe.uh.edu/~swiggins/powerpoin
t/sbsprocess.pp 3
 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 4
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 7
 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
10
 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 air-
conditioned 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