Sick building syndrome describes symptoms such as headache, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, fatigue and difficulty concentrating that occupants link to time spent in a building, and that ease after leaving it. Common causes are inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor sources, and biological contaminants. It is investigated by measuring the indoor environment.
What are the symptoms?
Dubai Municipality’s guideline lists headache; eye, nose or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty concentrating; fatigue; sensitivity to odours; and relief after leaving the building (clause 8-2-3-1, p17).
How is it different from building-related illness?
In sick building syndrome no specific illness or cause can be identified, and symptoms ease after leaving. In building-related illness, symptoms of a diagnosable illness are identified and attributed directly to airborne building contaminants (US EPA).
What causes it?
The US EPA lists inadequate ventilation, chemical contaminants from indoor sources (such as VOCs and formaldehyde from adhesives, furnishings and cleaning agents), chemical contaminants from outdoor sources, and biological contaminants such as mould and bacteria.
How common is it?
The EPA cites a 1984 World Health Organization committee report suggesting that up to 30% of new and remodelled buildings worldwide may be the subject of excessive complaints related to indoor air quality.
How do you investigate it in a UAE office or home?
Start by measuring. Continuous monitoring of CO₂, PM2.5, PM10, TVOC, formaldehyde, temperature and humidity for one to two weeks shows whether ventilation keeps up and which pollutants peak. Add an HVAC inspection and, where mould is suspected, a visual inspection with moisture readings and laboratory samples. Compare the results with Dubai Municipality’s limits.
Can monitoring prevent it?
It makes problems visible early. Rising CO₂ in meeting rooms, VOC spikes after cleaning or humidity creeping above 60% can be corrected before occupants start reporting symptoms.
Frequently asked questions
Is sick building syndrome a medical diagnosis?
It describes a pattern of symptoms linked to a building. Anyone with symptoms should see a doctor.
What is sick home syndrome?
The same pattern of symptoms linked to a home, often caused by humidity, mould, poor ventilation or chemicals from furnishings.
Who investigates sick building syndrome in the UAE?
Indoor air quality specialists like HawaQ measure the building; formal compliance testing is done by EIAC-accredited laboratories.
Sources
- Dubai Municipality, Technical Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality for Healthy Life (DM-HSD-GU119-IAQ, Version 4, December 2024): clause 8-2-3-1 (p17), Table 2 (p33).
- US EPA, Indoor Air Facts No. 4 (revised): Sick Building Syndrome (1991).
This guide explains public standards in plain language. It is not legal advice; check the current version of each document for compliance decisions.