You might think of your commercial HVAC system as simply
space heating and cooling, but did you know the Indoor
Air Quality (IAQ) of your property could be a risk for
Sick Building Syndrome. It is, in fact, a real
phenomenon.
In this blog, we’ll review what it is, how serious it
can get, the power you have to address it and the tools
at your disposal. Don’t worry.
The Energy Savers Commercial team is here to help
solve and prevent these issues.
Sick Building Syndrome: Is This for Real?
Various symptoms which affect occupants of the same
building describe Sick Building Syndrom. It increases
absences due to sickness and decreases worker
productivity. So prevalent, it’s now regarded as a major
occupational hazard.
It’s easy to understand why this confounds so many
people. Easily overlooked as cold, flu or allergy
symptoms, workers experience headaches, dizziness,
nausea, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough,
fatigue and difficulty in concentration. The majority of
these mild complaints resolve soon after leaving the
building.
In the most extreme cases of sick building syndrome,
however, chest pain, edema, nosebleeds, cancers,
pregnancy issues including miscarriages, Legionnaires’
disease, pneumonia and occupational asthma have
occurred.
How to Combat Sick Building Syndrome
First, consider the air occupants breathe. Legionnaires’
disease, for instance, is often traced to the
contamination of cooling towers with Legionella
organisms. The same organism is responsible for Pontiac
fever.
Legionnaires’ commonly strikes middle-aged and elderly
adults whereas young healthy adults are more likely to
contract Pontiac fever. You may have a humidifier
installed within your HVAC system to address dry air
indoors.
While in the south we’re typically focused on the
abundance of humidity and dehumidifiers for air
conditioning, dry air contributes to static electricity.
While annoying to people, static electricity is often a
real concern in industrial, office and other commercial
areas.
Breathing in microorganisms from water droplets are
known to cause various respiratory infections, asthma
and allergies.
Schedule Commercial HVAC Service
In addition to the benefits to the energy-efficiency of
your heating and cooling, it’s important to clean all
the components.
When your technician cleans drain lines and condensate
pans, for example, it reduces the chance of the type of
contaminants which breed in stagnant water. Commercial
HVAC technicians also commonly discover insect, bird and
rodent droppings.
These biological pollutants are guilty of symptoms like
fever, chills, coughs and allergic reactions.
Change Your Air Filters
Air filter maintenance is good for two reasons. First, clean air filters allow maximum airflow through your heating and cooling systems. Clogged filters, however, strain your equipment and prematurely age it. Second, when pollutants like pollen, dander, bacteria, viruses, fungi and mold continue to circulate through the air ducts, the same problems repeatedly surface.
Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome
Remember when Grandma encouraged you to “air out the
house?” Imagine the same concept twenty steps farther.
In many commercial settings, ventilation is key.
During the 1970s, building codes responded to the oil
embargo with more airtight structures. This effort to
increase energy efficiency also reduced ventilation to
inadequate levels to maintain the health and comfort of
occupants.
In response to the new ventilation levels of 5
cfm/person, the American Society of Heating,
Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers revised
standards to a minimum outdoor airflow of
15 cfm
/person, or 20 cfm/person for office spaces and 60
cfm/person where smoking is allowed.
Commercial Ventilation System
If you suspect ventilation is a problem, ask our commercial team to weigh in. They can perform various tests to determine, along with the building’s construction and history, where improvements are most impactful.
Rid Your Commercial Property of Sick Building Syndrome with the Energy Savers Commercial Team
Since 1977, Energy Savers has helped home and commercial
property owners and managers achieve ultimate heating
efficiency and comfort for residential and commercial
properties.
We also service and repair all brands of HVAC equipment
and provide air quality solutions for commercial,
industrial and residential sites.
If you would like to schedule a tune-up or repair for
your heating and air system, please call us. We offer
free estimates and when you are ready to upgrade to a
new energy-efficient system, we also offer installation
and finance options.
Energy Savers provides quality customer service and
energy-efficient commercial HVAC products in and around
Columbus, Georgia as well as Opelika and Auburn,
Alabama. To send “sick building syndrome” packing,
call us for HVAC and indoor air quality help today.