Have you ever noticed discomfort and health issues whenever you spend time in a particular building? This could be due to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). This is usually associated with poorly ventilated building design or indoor air quality (IAQ) issues. Though it is commonly overlooked, this design flaw can significantly impact occupants’ health and wellbeing, making it an essential concern during the construction phase.
Read this blog to understand what Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is, its common causes, why builders must pay close attention to it, and how testing for sick house syndrome can help ensure a healthier living environment.
What Is Sick Building Syndrome?
“Sick Building Syndrome” (SBS) is a condition in which building occupants experience various nonspecific health effects based on the time spent in a particular building. This condition is observed when a group of people live in a single common space, such as an office or a residential building.
The general building sickness symptoms are
- Headaches, fatigue, dizziness
- Eye and throat irritation
- Nausea
- Allergic reactions
- Respiratory problems
- Difficulty concentrating or general discomfort
To immediately improve this condition, just leave the building.
Major Causes of Sick Building Syndrome in Homes
The exact cause of Sick Building Syndrome is not completely identified, but the most common causes homeowners should watch out for are:
- Biological Contaminants: These are living organisms or their byproducts that cause contamination in a building due to excessive moisture or high humidity. It includes viruses, bacteria, moulds, household dust, cockroaches, and pollen, among others.
- Chemical Contaminants from Building Materials: Many paints, adhesives, sealants, and composite wood products release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that pollute indoor air. These are gas-phase contaminants with atoms and/or molecules with a size smaller than 0.003 microns. Apart from the building materials, they are most commonly released from indoor cleaning products, pesticides, and other synthetic materials. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are particularly harmful, as they can cause headaches, irritation of the eyes and throat, and long-term respiratory issues when inhaled regularly.
- Poor Indoor Air Quality: Buildings with inadequate ventilation or contaminated air can harbour pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, mould, and other allergens. These pollutants can cause respiratory problems and lead to various symptoms. When oxygen levels inside a building drop, the occupants may experience nausea, confusion, and dizziness.
- Improper Humidity Levels: Extreme heat and humidity can negatively affect mood and cognitive function, leading to stress and anxiety. Conversely, low humidity can cause dehydration of the skin, eyes, and respiratory passages, raising the risk of infections like colds and flu.
- Poor Lighting: Insufficient or inappropriate lighting can strain the eyes and cause headaches and visual discomfort. Based on the room’s purpose, light intensity must be designed with factors such as glare and colour in mind.
How to Identify Sick Building Syndrome in Your Home
If you notice the following warning signs, you can decide your building has SBS:
- Family members often experience headaches, irritation, or fatigue while staying in the building.
- The air inside the house feels stale, musty or chemically fragrant.
- There will be signs of condensation on windows or damp walls.
If you observe these symptoms only indoors, not outdoors, it may lead you to conclude that your home’s air quality or materials are defective.
Steps to Prevent Sick Building Syndrome
Homeowners, builders, and any developer need to follow these steps to improve the indoor environments that can prevent sick building syndrome:
1. Design for Better Ventilation
Designing for ventilation is important in any building. During efforts to improve energy efficiency, sealing a building too tightly can trap pollutants such as dust, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Install cross-ventilation, strategically aligning windows and openings to allow natural airflow. Install exhaust fans in closed areas such as bathrooms, kitchens, and basements. Establish adequate air exchange rates, and consider including natural ventilation if possible through dwelling openings, vents and louvres. Use breathable wall finishes when possible.
2. Choose Healthy Building Materials
When constructing or renovating your home, use green materials that help to create a healthy indoor space. To prevent chemical contamination, opt for water-based paints, lead-free finishes, and formaldehyde-free plywood for interiors. If possible, use sustainable building materials like stone, bamboo, or terracotta for flooring instead of synthetic vinyl.
Consider using low-VOC or VOC-free materials certified by recognised green standards such as GreenPro, GRIHA, or LEED. You can also choose natural alternatives like lime plaster, clay-based paints, and formaldehyde-free wood products, all of which help reduce indoor pollutants while enhancing durability and aesthetic appeal.
3. Control Moisture with Proper Waterproofing
If the building has issues such as dampness, water leakage, and improper waterproofing, it can lead to mould growth. The mould spores often cause breathing issues and trigger allergic reactions. Thus, apply waterproof walls, roofs, and basements. Provide good slope drainage to prevent water pooling. Use high-quality, moisture-resistant paint in bathrooms and kitchens. Maintain proper site drainage and regularly inspect joints and seals.
4. Efficient Lighting Design
During site planning, architects should consider both wind direction and sunlight exposure to achieve better natural ventilation and daylighting. Make the most of natural light through techniques such as skylights, large windows, and reflective surfaces that help distribute daylight evenly. To maintain visual comfort, install layered lighting strategically across different areas, combining with the different types of lights such as ambient, task, and accent for flexibility and mood balance. In addition, ensure artificial lighting has the right intensity and colour temperature to complement natural light.
5. Maintain Clean Air Indoors
Keeping indoor sanitation is vital to protect its condition and prevent Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). If people do not take care of the indoor environment, over time, it can allow a toxic build-up of pollutants and allergens, which affect air quality. Always avoid indoor smoking because the smoke produced releases particles that not only can stay in the room, but also permeate the structure. You can maintain indoor air quality with house plants that can improve oxygen and naturally purify some air quality pollutants. Air purifiers with HEPA filters should be used in the bedroom and living room area to remove dust, pollen and airborne contaminants. Apart from cleanliness and ventilation, having working HVAC systems with proper upkeep will promote airflow and limit the buildup of pollutants floating throughout the house.
Sick House Syndrome Testing
To maintain healthy indoor environments, builders should conduct the following testing and verification procedures with the help of experts:
1. Air Quality Tests: Measure indoor concentrations of VOCs, CO, CO₂, formaldehyde, and particulate matter. The following are the acceptable value ranges for a healthy indoor environment:
- Indoor VOCs: Under 0.25 ppm or 500 µg/m³
- Formaldehyde (HCHO): Limit of 0.05 ppm (30-minute average)
- CO₂: Should remain below 1000 ppm for optimal indoor air quality
- CO: Maximum of 2.0 mg/m³ (8-hour average, as per NBC India)
- Particulate Matter (PM2.5, PM10): PM2.5 ≤ 40 μg/m³, PM10 ≤ 60 μg/m³ (24-hour averages).
2. Humidity and Temperature Checks: Maintain relative humidity between 30% and 60% and indoor temperatures between 22°C–26°C for occupant comfort and microbial control.
3. Ventilation System Performance Tests: Verify air exchange rates meet National Building Code (NBC) India standards. Ensure a minimum fresh air supply of 8–10 L/s per person in typical residential or office spaces.
4. Material Certification Verification: Confirm paints, adhesives, sealants, and flooring materials possess GreenPro, IGBC, or equivalent low-emission certifications.
5. Mold and Microbial Growth Assessment: Inspect HVAC ducts, damp corners, and wall surfaces for fungi or bacterial buildup using biological sampling methods.
6. Radon and Formaldehyde Monitoring: In basements or tightly sealed structures, test for radon levels below 4 pCi/L and formaldehyde concentrations below 0.1 mg/m³ as per WHO guidelines.
Regulations and Certifications to Consider
Builders must follow the following green building standards to maintain the indoor health of the structure:
- LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) promotes superior indoor air quality through stringent ventilation requirements, low-emitting materials, thermal comfort standards, and enhanced filtration systems (like MERV 13+), ensuring reduced pollutants and occupant wellbeing.
- IGBC Green Homes Rating (India) encourages the use of low-VOC materials and natural ventilation to reduce indoor air contaminants.
- WELL Building Standard focuses on occupant health via performance-based criteria, including air quality, lighting, thermal comfort, and wellness features verified by on-site testing.
- GRIHA (Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment) emphasises sustainable design with indoor air quality parameters for healthier habitats.
Brick & Bolt’s Approach to Healthy Building Design
At Brick & Bolt, we believe a building should enhance your health—not harm it.
Our end-to-end construction process emphasizes:
- Use of certified low-VOC paints and adhesives
- Ventilation-optimized architectural layouts
- Moisture-proofing and waterproofing solutions
- Sustainable building materials and finishes
- Strict adherence to NBC and environmental codes
By combining modern construction technologies with eco-conscious design, we ensure that every home or workspace we deliver provides not just comfort and durability—but also a healthier indoor environment.
Conclusion
Sick Building Syndrome serves as an important reminder to maintain the indoor health of your home. By prioritising proper ventilation, material quality, moisture control, and sustainable design, you can create a living space that promotes both aesthetic appeal and hygiene. This not only enhances the comfort and appearance of interiors but also safeguards the health and well-being of your family and friends. Always hire a reliable construction firm that understands these principles to ensure that your home remains a safe, healthy, and comfortable environment for years to come.
Mithali Konety