Sick Building Syndrome Investigation

Turning a broad concern into a testable brief

Reports may include headaches, tiredness, dry eyes, throat irritation, discomfort or difficulty concentrating. These experiences have many possible influences and should not be assigned to the building without evidence. We establish which areas, days and periods are involved; whether several people describe a similar pattern; and whether changes coincide with occupancy, cleaning, refurbishment, temperature or ventilation operation. Personal medical details are neither requested nor interpreted.

Occupant questionnaire and building walk-through

A short, anonymised questionnaire records location and timing rather than names or diagnoses. Questions cover work area, days present, when discomfort begins, whether it changes away from the building, and observations about temperature, odour, dust or stuffiness. Responses are grouped to reveal spatial or time-based patterns. The walk-through then reviews room use, occupancy, air supply and extract points, openable windows, printers, cleaning activities, moisture signs, local heat sources and recent fit-out work.

What we measure and how

Real-time loggers commonly record carbon dioxide, temperature and relative humidity across occupied periods. Carbon dioxide helps show how ventilation responds to occupancy; it is not a measure of every pollutant. Particulate and TVOC screening can identify changes associated with activities or locations. We inspect accessible air-handling units, filters, coils, trays, grilles and duct condition where ventilation hygiene is relevant. Targeted laboratory sampling is added only when observations suggest a specific substance or microbial question.

1. 1

   Agree the complaint map

   Define affected zones, comparison areas, occupancy periods and relevant building events.

2. 2

   Gather anonymous patterns

   Use a focused questionnaire to compare time and place without collecting medical histories.

3. 3

   Log occupied conditions

   Place instruments where people work and in suitable comparison locations for an agreed period.

4. 4

   Review ventilation hygiene

   Inspect accessible components and relate condition to airflow paths and maintenance records.

5. 5

   Integrate the evidence

   Compare questionnaire themes, observations, time-series data and any laboratory findings.

Where and for how long

Locations are chosen from the complaint map and building layout, including affected work areas, meeting rooms or cellular spaces, a less-affected comparison zone and an outdoor reference where useful. Logging normally spans representative occupied and unoccupied periods agreed for the case. A brief spot reading cannot show morning start-up, afternoon accumulation or day-to-day changes, so the duration follows the pattern being investigated. Instrument positions, timestamps, occupancy information and plant schedules are retained with the results.

Interpreting findings without overstatement

The investigation can show whether measured conditions, ventilation response or hygiene observations correspond with reported times and places. It can identify practical issues such as poor ventilation response in a crowded room, thermal discomfort, activity-related particles or a local emission pattern. It cannot diagnose illness, establish an individual's medical cause or prove that one environmental factor explains every report. Where evidence is inconclusive, we identify the uncertainty and a proportionate next step rather than forcing a conclusion.

Communicating with staff and involving occupational health

A clear staff summary can explain what was assessed, what the measurements showed and which building actions will follow. It should distinguish measured facts from questions still under review and avoid discussing individual responses. Occupational health should be involved when people need personal clinical advice, symptoms are persistent or serious, fitness for work is being considered, or a medical pattern requires professional assessment. We can coordinate the environmental evidence while occupational health addresses individual wellbeing.

Is this the right page?

Employee Wellbeing Air Testing suits planned evidence gathering for workplace and ESG teams. Office Air Quality Testing suits a technical survey where there is no cluster of building-associated complaints.