Abstract:
The urbanization of Sri Lanka has resulted in an increase in apartment construction due to escalated
prices and scarcity of buildable land. These building occupants spend most of their time indoors
and the situation is further aggravated with the pandemic, during which the government and many
private organizations have permitted their employees the luxury of ‘working from home’ with
online facilities. The compact floor plan and controlled ventilation in most of the apartments
resulted in Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) as a stumbling block for liveability. This study
demonstrates the method of measuring and analysing the apartments for several Indoor
Environmental Quality (IEQ) parameters. Moreover, it measures the components / chemical
products which would affect the indoor environment. Finally, its effect on occupants that result in
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS).
With the objective of assessing the indoor air quality (IAQ) associated with SBS in Sri Lankan
Apartments, a study was conducted in 50 apartments selected from several cities in the Colombo
District, Sri Lanka. This study included a field study as well as a questionnaire. The indoor
environmental measurements considered were Total Volatile Organic Compound concentration
(TVOC concentration), CO2 concentration, Temperature, Relative Humidity and Noise level.
Occupants were requested to fill the questionnaire, which was focused to analyse the building
characteristics, indoor chemical usage and SBS symptoms.
The TVOC concentrations were reported to be varying from 0 ppm to 4.5 ppm and 0 to 1.87 ppm
in indoor and outdoor, respectively. The CO2 concentration were found to be ranging from 386ppm
to 883ppm. The use of chemicals in the daily routine had resulted in an increased indoor TVOC
concentration. Building characteristics such as mechanical ventilation and ability for cross
ventilation had a major impact on indoor air pollutant concentration in the apartments.
Furthermore, different types of air fresheners were found to be affecting the air quality, especially,
the cube type air freshener has caused the highest impact on indoor TVOC concentration out of
the varieties considered in the study. TVOC concentrations indicated positive correlations with
General symptoms as well as Respiratory symptoms. Furthermore, the provision of good
ventilation with proper cross ventilation resulted in better air quality. These new findings on the
SBS of apartment buildings in Sri Lanka would assist policy makers, builders, designers, and users
of apartment buildings to take urgent measures to reduce the indoor air pollution.
Citation:
Kumarage, N.R., Perera, P., & Jayasinghe, C. (2021). Indoor environmental quality and sick building syndrome in apartment buildings [Abstract]. In P. Hettiarachchi (Ed.), Proceedings of Civil Engineering Research Symposium 2021 (p. 23). Department of Civil Engineering, University of Moratuwa.