Sick Building Syndrome
30 May 2011 damp
In the last few years there has been an increasing move towards sustainable living. More insulation, draught proofing, ground source heat pumps, solar panels and the like. Essentially, the idea of living more in harmony with our homes and surroundings has got a foothold. I therefore found it quite unsettling when I was asked to carry out a survey for a client who thought that it was her house that was making her ill.
A number of e-mails were exchanged and symptoms conveyed. It sounded a curious problem, there had to be a logical explanation. I surveyed the property and pieced together the evidence. The most unusual aspects from a surveying perspective were the lack of air circulation and low relative humidity (typically below 40%), particularly given the open-plan nature of the kitchen/dining room and poorly ventilated utility room. There was even a shower room downstairs, so low relative humidity was not anticipated.
The property had been substantially extended several years earlier and the illness appears to have developed after this. Following the survey I carried out research to help find an explanation that would help my client and point us in the right direction for a solution. In carrying out this research I came across an interesting article about Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) written by Dr Colin Tidy and published on a medical website.
SBS certainly fit the symptoms. Could fumes given off by the very fabrick of the building combined with the poor ventilation really be responsible? Since my survey the ventilation of the property has been improved by installing heat recovery units. The continuous air flow they provide and controlled humidity made them an ideal choice. Only time will tell if my client makes a full recovery.
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