Buildings should provide comfortable, healthy environments for the people who occupy them. Unfortunately, some indoor spaces are associated with recurring symptoms that appear or worsen while occupants remain inside. This phenomenon is commonly known as sick building syndrome (SBS).
Understanding its potential causes can help property owners, employers and residents create healthier indoor environments.
Understanding Sick Building Syndrome
Sick building syndrome describes situations where occupants experience symptoms associated with time spent inside a particular building, without an identifiable illness or specific cause explaining the complaints.
Commonly reported symptoms include headaches, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, irritation of the eyes or throat, and general discomfort. Symptoms may improve after occupants leave the affected environment.
Importantly, SBS is not a single disease, and these symptoms can have numerous medical or environmental explanations.
What Causes Sick Building Syndrome?
Several building-related conditions may contribute to occupant discomfort. Inadequate ventilation can allow indoor pollutants to accumulate, while excessive humidity may encourage mould growth.
Other potential contributors include emissions from cleaning products, furnishings and certain building materials. Poor temperature control, uncomfortable lighting and inadequate maintenance can also affect indoor environmental quality.
Because symptoms can have multiple causes, investigating ventilation, moisture problems and possible pollutants is more useful than assuming a single explanation.
Can Sustainable Buildings Help?
Sustainable building practices can support healthier indoor environments when occupant wellbeing is included in their design.
Effective ventilation, moisture management and low-emission building materials can reduce exposure to certain indoor pollutants. Energy-efficient heating and cooling systems may also improve thermal comfort when designed and maintained appropriately.
However, sustainability alone does not guarantee healthy indoor air. Highly insulated buildings still require adequate ventilation and regular maintenance.
Creating Healthier Indoor Spaces
Property owners should prioritise ventilation system maintenance, moisture control and prompt investigation of persistent indoor environmental complaints. Where necessary, qualified professionals can assess air quality and identify potential building-related problems.
Occupants experiencing persistent symptoms should also seek appropriate medical advice rather than assuming their building is responsible.
A genuinely sustainable building should support both environmental performance and human wellbeing.
