Similar findings are apparent in the study by Kim and Dear( 2012), also based on the CBE database, which used the Kano model to determine the factors that affect occupants’ workplace satisfaction. Factors were divided into two categories; basic and proportional. Basic factors, such as thermal and acoustics, have a higher significance when the building does not perform as per the occupant’ s expectations and vice versa. If the thermal environment of the building is adequate, the occupants do not consider this element to be very important( ranked 11th out of the 15 factors considered) in achieving occupant satisfaction. However, in buildings where the thermal environment was inadequate, it was ranked 7th. Thus the authors conclude that if the basic factors of the building are performing adequately, further optimisation of these factors will not drastically change occupant satisfaction. In such cases, spending resources to improve the proportional factors( such as air quality and lighting) will have a notable effect in achieving occupant satisfaction within the workplace.
Sick building syndrome is often defined as health issues that are prevalent during an occupant’ s inhabitation of a building. Often, the symptoms disappear when the occupant moves away from the building, although in more chronic cases, the impacts of unhealthy building environments can be long term( Brightman et al. 2008; Roulet et al. 2006; Pejtersen et al. 2006). Brightman et al.( 2008) identify four categories of symptoms that are commonly associated with SBS; tiredness, mucosal irritation, neuropsychological and lower respiratory( Table 1). These symptoms are prevalent in occupants of both the‘ healthy’ and the‘ unhealthy’ buildings. Findings of the Building Assessment Survey Evaluation( BASE) survey conducted by the US Environmental Protection Agency( EPA) show that 45 % of the respondents had at least one symptom while 20 % had at least three symptoms. Eye symptoms were most common while wheezing and shortness of breath were least reported.
Table 1: Common SBS symptoms( Adapted from Brightman et al. 2008) |
Tiredness |
Mucosal irritation |
Neuropsychological |
Lower respiratory |
Tired or strained eyes |
Irritation to the nose, throat |
Tension |
Shortness of breath |
|
or skin |
|
|
Dry, itching or irritated eyes |
|
Nervousness |
Chest tightness |
Unusual tiredness, fatigue or |
|
Concentration difficulties |
Wheezing symptoms |
drowsiness |
|
|
|
Pain or stiffness in back, |
|
Dizziness |
|
shoulders or neck |
|
|
|
Headache |
|
Nausea |
|
Roulet et al.( 2006) conducts a survey of 5800 respondents in 64 office buildings. Among other criteria evaluated, a building symptom index( BSI) is generated based on prevalence of SBS symptoms among the occupants. The surveyed buildings were then classified as satisfactory or unsatisfactory. The average occurrence of symptoms is within the range of 14 % and 40 %. Although some of the offices had three or more reported symptoms, there were some buildings in which symptoms were almost non-existent. This shows that healthy building environments can be created which facilitate occupant health and comfort. According to Brightman et al.( 2008), the extensive research and understanding of indoor air quality often allows identification of SBS symptoms and causes, thereby making redundant the overarching terminology of SBS and the classification of buildings as healthy or healthy buildings, as their effects become evident over a span of time. Another study shows a positive connection between environmental factors, resultant comfort factors and the performance factors of occupants within the building. It further states that although there is no direct effect of comfort on the employees’ performance levels,
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