Tight Buildings
From Swikipedia
Introduction
Tight Buildings are buildings that are designed to let in minimal infiltration air in order to reduce heating and cooling energy costs. In actuality, buildings typically exhibit leakage that is on the same order as required ventilation; however, this leakage is not well distributed and cannot serve as a substitute for proper ventilation.
Brief Description
Tight Building Syndrome
Energy efficient buildings normally have few health hazards. But, when workers in these buildings start voicing health complaints such as eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, fatigue, sneezing, odors, and complaints that work areas are “too hot” or “too cold,” management should take notice and take steps to investigate and correct the problem. This problem may be tight building syndrome.
Health problems may result from the polluted air being recycled within the building.
The inside air could have been contaminated by emissions from work processes or vehicles outside of the building. Or, the air contamination could have come from products contained within the building such as new furniture, carpeting, adhesives, paneling, copy machines, janitorial supplies, carpet shampoos or insecticides. These can all contribute to indoor air pollution.
The solution to the tight building syndrome is designing the building ergonomically. This means designing the workplace according to the needs of the workers to prevent physical stress and injury. Because the design of workplace equipment is critical to a worker’s performance, well-adjusted, comfortable workstation that matches the individual and the requirements of the job increases worker productivity and has the potential of lowering workers’ compensation costs by reducing injury claims.
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