How to Stop Sick Building Syndrome

Do you know the best way of stopping Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) or Building Related Illness (BRI)? It's with the right protective green coatings. Some building components and surfaces are actually hazardous to your health and can cause everything from mild discomfort to severe illness and death. 'Sick building syndrome' (SBS) is a broad term used to describe industrial, commercial and residential buildings with environmental hazards that can lead to 'building related illness'(BRI). BRI is sometimes caused by exposure to hazardous, obsolete building materials such as asbestos and lead based paint. Other hazards are radon, mold, mildew and products with high Volatile Organic Content (VOCs) that can contribute to poor air quality for building occupants. These hazards are not the only cause of sick building syndrome yet they are the ones that can be quickly and simply handled with the right environmentally friendly, green products that are appropriate for taking corrective action. After identifying the hazard, it can be quickly sealed over, encased, to instantly eliminate the source of exposure. When using the appropriate green coatings to stop SBS consider the amount of VOCs the products give off. There is no point in using a product to solve a problem if it creates other problems. Research shows that some VOCs off gas pollutants that can cause chronic and acute health effects at high concentrations, and some are known carcinogens. Even low to moderate levels of VOCs may produce acute reactions in some individuals. The right green coatings can solve many SBS problems simply and swiftly. Leaking roofs or walls that allow moisture to infiltrate a building can produce unsafe mold and mildew. This can be resolved by simply sealing the surfaces to stop the penetration. The same process can be used to stop the release of deteriorating Lead Based Paint or Asbestos. Instead of trying to remove the offending materials which is often a lengthy and expensive process, they can be sealed over with a sustainable and renewable green coating. This is the best of both worlds; leave the questionable material in place to do what it was originally intended to do, and cut off the source of the exposure. Often outdoor contaminated air that enters a building can contribute to poor indoor air quality. As the polluted air lands on interior surfaces it should be cleaned off to stop the risk of reintroducing it to the interior environment. This requires a surface coating that is easily cleaned, durable and extremely scrub resistant. When choosing the right green protective coating to stop and prevent SBS and BRI, make sure it is thoroughly tested and approved by independent, accredited third party laboratories, and suitable for the job at hand. The coating should have minimal VOC's, be durable, sustainable and renewable, and able to stand the test of time on both interior and exterior surfaces. The coating should also be extremely flexible to withstand the natural expansion and contraction of building movement from temperature changes and vibrations without cracking.