What is Sick Building Syndrome?

Sick building syndrome or SBS is a temporary medical condition caused by being in a building or type of enclosed space where the indoor air quality is poor. There are many factors that can contribute to poor indoor air quality. In 1984, a report by the World Health Organization suggested that up to 30% of new or remodeled buildings have low air quality, which can lead to SBS.

Diagnosing SBS can be tricky because the causes are many and often emulate cold or flu symptoms. Among the possible symptoms are:

The key to diagnosing SBS is a person’s symptoms improve after leaving a building in question and only when they return, the symptoms return as well. If a building is deemed with poor indoor air quality, there are a few steps people can take to treat SBS:

• Use low fume and fragrance-free cleaning products.
• Dust and vacuum regularly to keep the environment clean.
• Test for possible indoor mold or fungus.
• Update or purchase air purifiers for building or room.

Air cleaning can be a useful addition to indoor air quality control alongside ventilation to fight against SBS. MatrixAir air purifiers capture 90-95% of small, respirable particles down to .3 microns with a three-phase filtering system at the heart of every MatrixAir unit. From small residential units like the AeroClear, to demanding industrial units like the MaxMount, MatrixAir has a unit that can fit any building need.

For more information about how MatrixAir air purifiers can aid in fighting against SBS and promote best practices for indoor air quality call us at (603) 863-7553 or email [email protected].