Full Proposal in pdf - M E Rinker Sr School of Building Construction ...

One of the other soft costs associated with IAQ is the economic loss created by healthproblems. In OSHA's effort to establish ventilation rules for non-industrial workers, theyused the following justifications, in part:"….the Agency estimates that the excess risk of developing the type of non-migraineheadache which may need medical attention or restrict activity which has beenassociated with poor indoor air quality is 57 per 1,000 exposed employees. In additionthe excess risk of developing upper respiratory symptoms which are severe enough torequire medical attention or restrict activity is estimated to be 85 per 1,000 exposedemployees. These numbers are extrapolated from actual field studies and therefore showthe magnitude of the problem at present.” (OSHA, 1994)This amounts to an estimated average excess risk of lost work-time or diminishedproductivity for an additional 6% of workforce, on any given day, in any facility thatexhibits poor indoor air quality. Another 9% are estimated to be at excess risk and wouldprobably incur lost time due to upper respiratory sickness. In the same LawrenceBerkley/DOE study mentioned earlier, they estimated that the direct cost to the U.S.economy due to increased allergies, asthma and SBS symptoms were $7 and $23 Billionper year. A large portion of these costs are estimated in the form of Workmen'sCompensation claims, Health Care insurance premiums and direct Health Care costs -mostly borne by the claimants' employers.IAQ related litigation cases are still few but are increasing along with the awareness ofaffects of IAQ in buildings. One of the buildings that exhibited the classic symptoms ofSBS was the DuPage County Courthouse in Wheaton, IL. One day in 1992, 25employees were rushed to the hospital, suffering from shortness of breath, headaches, andnausea. The four-story, $50 million building was closed temporarily, affecting some 700employees. The main problem with the courthouse was inadequate ventilation. Thecounty in this case sought $3 million in damages for the design, engineering, andconstruction of the building (Bas, 1993). Another sick building was the Polk CountyCourthouse in Central Florida. The building was opened in the summer of 1987 at a costof $37 million. Due to IAQ problems, the building was shut down, and the remediation ofthe building realized at a cost of $26 million (Bas, 1993).Public focus and litigation on IAQ issues are growing along with increasing belief byemployees that they are "owed" a safe and comfortable working environment. Manyemployees feel that civil litigation involving third parties is their only recourse, whenshown the limitations of claims against their employers within Workmen's Compensationlaws. This makes HVAC engineers, contractors, construction subcontractors, propertymanagers, and building owners the biggest targets.