Sick building syndrome in residential apartments

Abstract

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is currently a widely discussed topic all around the world since most of the population spends a majority of their time indoors. However, in Sri Lanka, there is less discussion on SBS. Among the contributory factors for SBS, polluted air plays a leading role while aggravating the situation with poor ventilation. To assess the magnitude of SBS prevail in Apartment buildings in Sri Lanka, a field study was carried out placing the focus on Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) and Carbon Dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations. A series of measurements were taken on selected Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) parameters in a sample of apartment buildings located close to the main highway. The IAQ monitoring was coupled with a questionnaire survey on SBS symptoms, building operational practices, and other related parameters. The results of the study revealed that IAQ parameters could correlate with SBS symptoms at different significant levels. Moreover, poor ventilation had been identified as a prominent contributory factor to substandard air quality which in turn would result in several SBS symptoms. The results of this research will be benefited Engineers, Architects, Developers, and the general public.