‘Sick Building Syndrome can be countered at the design stage’

Dubai, UAE: It is well-known that people in the Middle East region spend most of their time in indoor environments, be it in homes, offices or shopping malls. Therefore, the quality of air that exists within a closed room needs to be devoid of any pollutants or microbes as they can result in serious health concerns. Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can cause Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and Legionnaire’s Disease, which can sometimes prove fatal.

Among the many measures that can be taken to avoid SBS, experts are of the view that addressing the issue at the design stage is one such measure. Saad Ali, VP and Group General Manager at Ruskin Titus Gulf, says that SBS can be countered at the design stage by following a few basic requirements, which include: Maintenance programme/guides of the mechanical ventilation equipment should be in place to ensure that the building is properly maintained and operated based on the original design, ensuring sufficient ventilation in the room with an adequate amount of fresh air and regulation of humidity and temperature inside the building.