ABSTRACT
Buildings can be affected by a variety of environmental problems and maladies. These problems are not restricted to residential structures, office buildings, commercial buildings, or industrial facilities. They tend to affect all structures to some degree. Certain types of problems affect some types of structures more than others. These environmental problems could be produced by inadequate design or construction, improper materials, building age, infiltration of hazardous materials, or naturally occurring phenomenon, health issues, and improper use of the facility. The quality of indoor air has been a concern for several hundred years with a dramatic increase in the 1970s as a result of the energy crisis that developed in that decade. During that decade, building occupants increased the reporting of a multitude of maladies arising from the occupation of indoor environments. A common term used to describe the variety of environmental problems that may arise is the “sick building syndrome.” Another term often used is “building-related illness.” It should be noted that there is no widespread agreement on the definition of these terms. Before we cover some of the more common environmental problems that may arise we need to first discuss the administration and the classification of buildings because the requirements for different structures differ considerably in detail although they share most of the common elements.
