Sick buildings

1
Sick buildings

• Diagnosis and treatment
• 7y790

2
MAC

• The maximally allowed concentration (MAC) of a
  gaseous substance is that concentration in the
  air of a working environment that in general
• According to current knowledge
• Even at repeated and long-term exposure
• During the full working life
• will not harm the health of workers nor that of
  their descendants
• Nationale MAC-commissie 1978

MAC-TGG tijdgewogen gemiddelde / time weighted
mean MAC-C peak concentration
3
Some general hygienic limits
Agent Limit value
Micro-organisms in air 500 CFU / m3
Dust lt 3.5 µm 40 µm / m3
Fungal products 2 ng / m3 (?)
Bacterial toxins 100 ng / m3
Carbon monoxide 25 ppm
Carbon dioxide 700 ppm
Mites in carpeting 10 / g dust 2 µm allergen / g dust
Mites in bed / padded furniture 100 / g dust 2 µm allergen / g dust
Rats / Mice lt 1 / building
Cockroaches lt 1 / building
Legionella in water 50 (25) CFU / l
Bacteria in potable water 1000 CFU / ml
4
Health damage buildings

• Sick building syndrome (SBS) occupants
  experience acute health and comfort effects that
  are linked to time spent in a building no
  specific illness or cause can be identified
• Building related illness (BRI) occupant shows
  symptoms of diagnosable illness that can be
  attributed directly to airborne building
  contaminants

Source Environmental Protection Agency USA
http//epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html
5
Sick Building Syndrome a collection of certain
specific complaints and symptoms experienced by
workers during or after a stay in certain
building spaces Source E Eyskens, L Feenstra,
AE Meinders (eds) 1991. Codex Medicus. Elsevier,
Amsterdam. ISBN 90-6228-183-4
6
Sick Building Symptoms

• Dry eyes
• Dry throat
• Headache
• Dry skin
• Mucous membrane irritation
• Lethargy
• Asthmatic symptoms

7
Additive effects

• Example Pollution by a Laser printer

C Concentration in the Air MAC MAC value
Ozon 0.1 ppm Carbon monoxide 25 ppm airborne
dust (stof) 0.05 mg / m3 air
8

• A Sick Building
• forms an environment that adheres to relevant
  standards but does not fully answer to the human
  need for
• - Absence of Pathogens
• - Absence of other biotic, chemical or physical
  Pollutants
• - Thermal Comfort
• Lighting Comfort
• Acoustic Comfort
• - Sufficient Space, Privacy, Peace and Quiet
• Contact with outdoors (view, sound, smell, air
  quality)
• Source PA Vroon 1991. Ziekmakende Gebouwen en de
  evolutie van de mens.
• Bouwfysica 2(2)18-25 E Eyskens, L
  Feenstra, AE Meinders (eds) 1991.
• Codex Medicus. Elsevier, Amsterdam.
  ISBN 90-6228-183-4

9
A Healthy Building forms an environment that -
Has a Low Risk for negative health effects -
Makes Healthy Behaviour self-evident -
Compensates for disease or infirmity present -
Stimulates users to realise their ambitions -
Leaves Users Master of the situation
10
Building Assessment
Health aspect Assessment method Assessment method Assessment method
Health aspect Physical, chemical biological measurements Check user interfaces Questionnaire / Interview
Low health risk x x x
Supporting healthy behaviour 0 x x
Compensates 0 x x
Stimulates ambitions 0 0 x
Leave end-users master 0 x x
Building-in-use method repeated questionnaires
11
General measurements

• Carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Water vapour
• Airborne dust

• Pay attention to the following
• Peak values may be more important than averages
• Measure continuously for 7-10 days
• Measure outdoor and indoor concurrently
• Combine physical values with a complaint diary

12
Building services design(also for dwellings)

• Robust
• Locus of control user
• Automated when desired by user
• Sensors for CO, CO2, energy use, .
• Automated safety actions always with explanation
  to the users
• Action options for the user