Diagnosing and solving Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) requires a systematic audit of the building’s air quality and ventilation systems. The goal is to move beyond occupant complaints and identify the specific, measurable pollutants that are causing the health issues. This guide provides a clear, step-by-step approach to auditing and implementing targeted fixes for a sick building’s air.
Step 1: Baseline Audit and Data Collection
The first step is establishing an objective, continuous baseline of the air quality. This replaces episodic testing with a constant stream of data.
- Measure Key Pollutants: Deploy a continuous air monitor to track the primary indicators of SBS: carbon dioxide (CO2), total volatile organic compounds (VOC), temperature, and relative humidity (RH). The focus should be on areas with the highest number of complaints or the highest occupancy.
- Analyze Trends: Look for patterns that correlate with symptoms. CO2 spikes above 1,000 ppm indicate ventilation failure. VOC spikes after cleaning or installation signal material off-gassing issues. RH consistently above 60% points to biological contamination risk.
- Correlate with Occupancy: Track how CO2 levels change throughout the day to determine if the HVAC system is delivering sufficient fresh air relative to the number of people present.
Step 2: Fix the Sources of Contamination
Data from the audit should directly point to the primary pollution sources. Address these first.
- Chemical Sources: If VOCs are high, replace high-emitting products (paints, adhesives, cleaning supplies) with low- or zero-VOC alternatives. Allow newly furnished areas to air out before occupancy.
- Biological Sources: If RH is consistently high or mold is suspected, fix all leaks and water damage. Install dehumidifiers to keep RH in the safe 40%−55% range. Clean and disinfect all HVAC drain pans and cooling coils.
Step 3: Optimize Ventilation and Filtration
Even with source control, the system must actively clean and refresh the air.
- Increase Fresh Air: Adjust the HVAC system to increase the rate of fresh air intake, prioritizing high-occupancy zones. Ensure that all outdoor air dampers are fully open and functional.
- Upgrade Filtration: Replace standard filters with high-efficiency filters (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, or MERV 13 or higher). This will capture more fine particulates, spores, and dust, significantly reducing the airborne allergen load.
- Pressure Check: Ensure the building maintains a slight positive pressure to prevent unfiltered air and exhaust fumes from being sucked in through cracks and openings.
Continuous data is the essential element that ties the audit to the fix, replacing the old guessing game. The uHoo air quality monitor is an original and perfect tool for this entire process. For instance, the system’s ability to track multiple pollutants simultaneously, not just CO2, provides the comprehensive data needed to prove that replacing a chemical cleaning agent led to an observable and sustained drop in VOCs. This scientific approach, enabled by the uHoo, transforms a vague diagnosis into a clear, measurable, and fixed problem.