Is My Building Sick?, Introduction

Is My Building Sick?

Introduction

Indoor air quality has become a concern in the workplace because poor air quality can harm the health, comfort, well-being, and productivity of building occupants.

While most buildings don't have severe indoor air quality issues, even well-run buildings sometimes experience episodes of poor air quality. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that as many as a third of American employees work in a building that has indoor air quality issues.

Poor indoor air quality is usually not as easy to identify or correct as a wobbly desk or a leaky faucet. Indoor air quality is influenced by many factors inside and outside a building that may change over time. Sometimes employees think other factors that affect their health or comfort are indoor air quality problems.

Although it may seem counterintuitive, the first step to solving indoor air quality problems is not an air quality test. This report will help building managers understand the actions they can take to identify and correct the most common sources of indoor air quality issues. Funds can be used to fix problems rather than pay for expensive tests. This report also explains when to get assistance from a specialist, such as a facilities engineer or industrial hygienist.