Complaints about discomfort and health problems in offices and homes have been investigated as far back as two decades ago in US and Europe, and more recently in Singapore. These complaints ranging from fatigue, blocked nose, dry throat, headaches and difficulties in breathing appear to have temporal correlation with being in a building and were labelled ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ or SBS.

Studies have shown that SBS symptoms were mainly due to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) caused by factors such as emissions from building and maintenance work and the materials used in connection, inefficient operation and maintenance of MVAC systems and contamination from activities and equipment used by occupants. SBS symptoms were also found to be associated with occupational and social factors such as work organisation, job category and gender. Failure to mitigate and respond effectively to IAQ problems can be detrimental to occupant health and workplace productivity and, create negative publicity and liability problems.

In Singapore, the BCA Code for Environmental Sustainability of Buildings has Indoor Environmental Quality which incorporates Indoor Air Quality as a compliance requirement with the Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality for Air-Conditioned Premises as a reference. This national effort will no doubt increase awareness of Sick Buildings and promote IAQ Management.