| ice buildings all across the country, employees come to | | | | to let in fresh air and sometimes no doors that lead |
| work feeling fine and leave the office feeling ill and | | | | directly outside. |
| lethargic. This doesn't necessarily mean that these | | | | How to alleviate sick building syndrome |
| employees are sick of their jobs, but in many cases it | | | | Portable air conditioners don't utilize the ducting and |
| does mean that their job is literally making them sick | | | | can be set up quickly for temporary use. Portable air |
| due to what is called "sick building syndrome." | | | | conditioners offer more than just cool air; they condition |
| Sick building syndrome is caused by molds, monoxides, | | | | the air, filtering out contaminants as the air circulates |
| and other pollutants that lurk in air conditioning vents | | | | through the system. If you find that the portable air |
| and behind walls. The result can be deadly in extreme | | | | conditioners have improved the overall health in the |
| cases; the rest of the time, sick building syndrome | | | | office, it's a good bet that there is some form of irritant |
| produces unmotivated, unhappy employees who | | | | in the central air ducting that is the root cause of the |
| wonder why they literally feel sick coming to work. | | | | problem. |
| How can you tell if your office could have "sick building | | | | However, if the building has no form of outside |
| syndrome" | | | | ventilation, a portable air conditioner will still be recycling |
| If you suspect that people in your office could be | | | | the air in the space. If conditions are too severe, you |
| suffering adverse health affects, contact an HVAC | | | | may want to consider moving to a building with more |
| specialist to check for contaminants in your building's air | | | | ventilation. Find out from your building superintendent |
| conditioning vents. If the vents and ducts are dirty or | | | | how many cubic feet of fresh air the central air |
| the specialists believes that the walls may be hiding | | | | conditioning is pulling in per minute and divide that by the |
| molds, spores, or other dangerous contaminants, stop | | | | number of people in the office. According to HVAC |
| using the central air system immediately and have a | | | | professionals, 20 cubic feet of fresh air per person is |
| specialist install portable air conditioners to cool and | | | | ideal. |
| circulate air through the building. | | | | If employees feel tired and ill when they come to work, |
| How buildings become "sick" | | | | don't necessarily chalk it up to poor attitudes and |
| There are countless different contaminants in and | | | | disinterest in the job. As any CEO or president knows, |
| around buildings, from asbestos in older office buildings, | | | | people are the greatest asset of any company. Taking |
| to the mold that has been mushrooming since last | | | | measures to ensure that their working environment is |
| year's, water pipe leak. Add to this the fact that most | | | | healthy and safe is an essential part of building a |
| office buildings, especially high rises, have no windows | | | | positive, thriving business. |