Montage of Houston
5927 Almeda Road Houston, TX 77004-7791(713) 522-5925
The Mosaic and Montage
Now Considered to have sick building syndrome!!
Now Considered to have sick building syndrome!!Indoor Air QualityIs your building sick? New and existing buildings can develop Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems. According to a World Health Organization Committee study, up to 30 percent of new and remodeled buildings worldwide may be suffering from "sick building syndrome."Good indoor air quality contributes to a healthy and productive environment and creates a sense of comfort and well-being. Bad indoor air quality can have many adverse effects including long-term health problems. Proper maintenance of indoor air is more than a "quality" issue; it includes the safety and good management of your investment in your staff and facilities.Does your facility suffer from Sick Building Syndrome?
Take our IAQ quiz to find out.Q: Do occupants in your building experience:headache, fatigue and/or shortness of breath?sinus congestion, coughing and sneezing?eye, nose, throat and/or skin irritation?dizziness and nausea?Q: Are any of these symptoms localized within a certain area or widespread throughout the building?Q: Do these symptoms disappear when the occupant(s) leave the building?Q: Do occupants often comment that "there is a funny smell in here?"If you answered "yes" to any one of these questions, your facility could be suffering from Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). SBS is used to describe cases where building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that are linked to time spent in the building and not to an illness. Many different indoor air quality symptoms have been associated with SBS, including respiratory complaints, fatigue and irritation. Complaints may be localized in a specific area or widespread throughout the building.Factors influencing indoor air quality
According to Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies, human exposure to indoor air pollutants may be two to five times -- occasionally more than 100 times -- higher than outdoor pollution levels. Indoor air pollution, or Sick Building Syndrome, is among the EPA's top four environmental risks to public health.During the past 40 or 50 years, exposure to indoor air pollution has increased due to a variety of factors including:construction of more tightly sealed buildingsuse of synthetic building materials and furnishingsuse of chemically formulated cleaning products, personal care products, perfumes, air fresheners, and pesticidesHVAC systems and equipmentindoor humidity levels which are too high or too lowWhen the heating, ventilation and air-conditioning system is properly designed, installed and in good working condition, it:controls temperature and humiditydistributes adequate amounts of outdoor air to meet ventilation needs of building occupantsisolates and removes odors, dust, allergens and pollutants through pressure control, filtration and exhaust fans.Examples of indoor air pollutantsIndoor air contaminants can originate within the building or be drawn in from the outside. If the source of contamination is not located and controlled, indoor air quality problems can arise. Following are some examples of indoor air pollutants.External sourcesOutdoorpollen, dust and fungal sporesindustrial pollutants (e.g., smoke, fumes)vehicle exhaustEmission from other sources nearbyexhaust from traffic, loading docks and parking garages and lotsdumpster odorsbuilding exhaust that is being drawn back inSoil gasradonunderground fuel tank leakagecontaminants from previous site usage (e.g., landfills)Standing water (environs for microbial growth)rooftopscrawl spacebelow ground floors or storage areasEquipment, internal or externalHVAC systemdirt and dust in ductworkmicrobiological growth in drain pans, humidifiers, ductwork and coilsimproper use of biocides, sealants and/or cleaning compoundsimproper venting of combustion productsrefrigerant leakageNon-HVAC systemsemissions from office equipment, e.g., volatile organic compounds, ozonesupplies, e.g., solvents, toner, ammoniaemissions from shops, labs, cleaning processes, etc.elevator motors or other mechanical systemsMoisture problems have caused mold to grow on concrete around ductwork in this commercial building and damaged cause by hurrican IKE.
Human activitiesperfume, cologne, cosmetics, smoking, body odorcleaning materials, supplies and/or proceduresfumes from paint, adhesives, deodorizers and other productsexcessive CO₂ from gas exhaled as well as a byproduct of combustion and photosynthesisBuilding components and furnishingscarpet, curtains and upholstery that can produce as well as collect dust, fibers and odorsopen shelvingmicrobiological growth in soiled or water-damaged furnishings and building materialsfood preparation areaspoorly designed or clogged drains (standing water) and dry traps that allow sewer gas to escape
For complaints due to health concerns please contact the City of Houston and the EPA.
