What common feature defines Sick Building Syndrome?

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is characterized by the presence of health-related symptoms that a significant minority of occupants experience but cannot be directly linked to any specific contaminants or an identifiable source within the building environment. Those symptoms can include headaches, eye irritation, respiratory issues, and fatigue among others.

The defining feature that sets SBS apart is that these symptoms are prevalent enough to be notable among the occupants, typically affecting around 20% or more of the people in a given space, yet they do not point to a single identifiable source of indoor contaminants. This contrasts with other situations where symptoms may be tied to specific pollutants or problems that can be traced back directly to actions or conditions within the building.

While self-reporting of symptoms can occur, it is not a definitive feature of SBS since it describes the phenomenon of the problem rather than verifying pupil-prone symptoms. The prevalence and recognition of multiple symptoms among a sizeable portion of the building's occupants is what truly encapsulates Sick Building Syndrome. This aspect emphasizes the collective experience of those individuals rather than solely relying on documented reports of individual cases, which can vary widely in nature and significance.