ABSTRACT
A common, useful definition of “sick building syndrome” is when at least 20 percent of the people occupying a building experience symptoms of illness for a period of two weeks or longer, but the source of the symptoms cannot be determined. Air filters should be properly selected and maintained to remove particles and contaminants from the air before it is introduced (or reintroduced/recirculated) and distributed indoors. Air distribution should be adequate so that clean indoor air reaches the occupants and to avoid drafts and temperature gradients. Today’s buildings may have as many as 900 contaminants indoors with thousands of sources—including new furniture, cleaning agents, smoking, new building materials, pesticides and even perfume and other cosmetics. The courts and government are sympathetic to employees who are forced to work in environments that can do them harm; this no longer applies only to industrial-type facilities, but also to hospitals, schools and office buildings.
