---
title: "Sick building syndrome"
subject: "Environment and Pollution Control"
chapter: 3
key: "semester_7/environment_and_pollution_control:sick-building-syndrome-notes"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/environment_and_pollution_control/sick-building-syndrome-notes
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Sick building syndrome

Environment and Pollution Control · Chapter 3: Indoor Air Quality

- Asked in: year not given, 4 marks
- Video: [What Is Sick Building Syndrome?](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mmho_iKsfQo) — BrainStuff - HowStuffWorks
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/environment_and_pollution_control/sick-building-syndrome-notes
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/environment_and_pollution_control/chapter-3

## Question

Write short notes on sick building syndrome and building-related illness.

## Short answer

Sick building syndrome involves non-specific symptoms such as headache, eye irritation and fatigue that occur in a building and disappear on leaving, with no identifiable disease. Building-related illness has a diagnosable cause, e.g. Legionnaires' disease or asthma from mould, and may persist after leaving. Causes include poor ventilation, VOCs and biological contaminants.

## Answer

**Sick building syndrome (SBS)** is a set of non-specific symptoms experienced by occupants of a building that appear while they are in the building and disappear soon after they leave, and for which no specific cause or disease can be identified. It is mostly reported in air-conditioned, tightly sealed offices.

#### Symptoms
- Headache, fatigue, dizziness, difficulty concentrating
- Irritation of eyes, nose and throat, dry cough, skin dryness and itching
- Nausea and sensitivity to odours

#### Causes
- Inadequate ventilation and poor distribution of fresh air
- Chemical contaminants from furniture, carpets, paints, copiers and cleaning agents (VOCs, formaldehyde)
- Biological contaminants: mould, bacteria in ducts and drip trays
- Poor temperature and humidity control, poor lighting and noise, job stress

#### Building-related illness (BRI)
Here the symptoms can be diagnosed and traced to a specific cause in the building, and they may continue after leaving. Examples: Legionnaires' disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, humidifier fever, asthma from mould.

#### Remedies
- Increase fresh air supply and maintain the HVAC system (clean filters and ducts)
- Remove or reduce the source (low-VOC materials, no smoking)
- Control humidity at 30-60%, and clean regularly

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Sick building syndrome is characterised by:
   A. A specific diagnosed disease that persists after leaving
   B. Non-specific symptoms that appear in the building and fade after leaving, with no specific cause identified
   C. Only skin allergies
   D. Symptoms only in hospitals
   Answer: B. SBS symptoms relate to time in the building, with no identifiable cause or disease. (Key point: Definition of SBS)

2. Which is a building-related illness?
   A. Headache and fatigue in a sealed office
   B. Legionnaires' disease traced to a cooling system
   C. Dry skin and mild irritation
   D. Difficulty concentrating
   Answer: B. BRI has diagnosable symptoms traced to a specific cause, e.g. Legionnaires' disease, and may continue after leaving. (Key point: SBS vs BRI)

3. Which is a main cause of SBS?
   A. Inadequate ventilation and chemical or biological contaminants
   B. Too much fresh air
   C. Open windows
   D. Low-VOC materials
   Answer: A. Poor fresh air distribution plus VOCs, formaldehyde, mould and poor comfort control cause SBS. (Key point: Causes of SBS)

4. Which remedy helps?
   A. Sealing the building further
   B. Increase fresh air, maintain HVAC, control humidity at 30-60%
   C. Raising humidity above 80%
   D. Removing filters
   Answer: B. More fresh air, HVAC maintenance, source reduction and humidity of 30-60% reduce SBS. (Key point: Remedies)

## Related in other subjects

- [Data required for rate analysis (building)](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Festimating_and_costing%3Arate-analysis-data-required) — Estimating and Costing, chapter 4