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Do I Work in a Sick Building?

Do I Work in a Sick Building?. Operation Outreach American Industrial Hygiene Association and the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ). Concerns about IAQ are increasing People spend most of their time indoors

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Do I Work in a Sick Building?

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  1. Do I Work in a Sick Building? Operation Outreach American Industrial Hygiene Association and the AIHA Indoor Environmental Quality Committee

  2. Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) • Concerns about IAQ are increasing • People spend most of their time indoors • The World Health Organization estimates up to 30% of office buildings have IAQ problems • Serious IAQ problems (“sick buildings”) are rare, however • Causes of poor IAQ are not fully understood

  3. What is Good IAQ? • Most people agree good indoor air quality is: • free of odors • not dusty • comfortable (not too hot or cold) • not too dry or too humid • not drafty but not too still

  4. What are Common Complaints about IAQ? • Uncomfortable temperature - most common • Poor air movement - too drafty or too still - next most common • Air is too dry or muggy

  5. What are Common Complaints about IAQ? • Health related complaints - may be similar to cold or flu: • headache, sinus problems, congestion • dizziness, nausea, fatigue • eye, nose, throat irritation • Health related complaints - may affect people with allergies: • sneezing, swollen airways, asthma

  6. What are Common Complaints about IAQ? • These complaints generally are not likely due to the building, unless: • symptoms are shared by many occupants • symptoms are unusually persistent • there is a distinct and noticeable suspect quality to the air

  7. Why is Ventilation Important? • The HVAC system must provide control of contaminants and thermal comfort • Discomfort (stale, still air, odors, too dry or muggy) can lead to complaints • Most IAQ complaints are due to inadequate ventilation

  8. When Should Air Testing be Done? • Interpreting test results is difficult: • with few exceptions, standards for IAQ have not been developed • occupational limits (OSHA) apply to industrial workplaces, not to office or schools

  9. How can IAQ Problems be Prevented? • Three measures will reduce IAQ problems: • good building design • proper building maintenance, especially the HVAC system • well controlled remodeling projects

  10. Summary • IAQ concerns are a fact of life • Most complaints are due to discomfort • It is not possible to satisfy all occupants • Truly “sick” buildings are rare • The indoor work environment should be comfortable as well as safe • Proper building management is very important

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