Executive Training Course (1-Day)

SICK BUILDINGS AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY MANAGEMENT

» Qualified for 7 PDUs by PE Board
» Green-Related Training for Green Mark Professionals (GMP)

Course Background

Complaints about discomfort and health problems in offices and homes have been investigated as far back as two decades ago in US and Europe, and more recently in Singapore. These complaints ranging from fatigue, blocked nose, dry throat, headaches and difficulties in breathing appear to have temporal correlation with being in a building and were labelled ‘Sick Building Syndrome’ or SBS.

Studies have shown that SBS symptoms were mainly due to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) caused by factors such as emissions from building and maintenance work and the materials used in connection, inefficient operation and maintenance of MVAC systems and contamination from activities and equipment used by occupants. SBS symptoms were also found to be associated with occupational and social factors such as work organisation, job category and gender. Failure to mitigate and respond effectively to IAQ problems can be detrimental to occupant health and workplace productivity and, create negative publicity and liability problems.

In Singapore, the BCA Code for Environmental Sustainability of Buildings has Indoor Environmental Quality which incorporates Indoor Air Quality as a compliance requirement with the Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality for Air-Conditioned Premises as a reference. This national effort will no doubt increase awareness of Sick Buildings and promote IAQ Management.

Course Objectives

The course will adopt a Building Life Cycle approach to impart knowledge on the following diverse prevention, mitigation and control measures in SBS and IAQ Management:

•  SBS and IAQ Cause and Effect Parameters
•  Life Cycle Framework for Sick Buildings and IAQ Evaluation Protocol
•  Biological and Chemical IAQ Contamination and Control Strategies
•  Toxicology of Building Materials and Judicious Selection and Installation Procedures
• Thermal Comfort and Maintenance of MVAC systems for IAQ Assurance

Course Programme

• SBS-IAQ BUILDING RELATED ISSUES
  • Epidemiology of Sick Buildings
  • Design-Construction/Refurbishment-Maintenance Link
  • Code of Practice and Related Legal Issues
• BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINATION IN BUILDINGS
  • Sources of Biogenic Contamination
  • Legionella and Mould Problems
  • Control Strategies
• CHEMICAL CONTAMINATION IN BUILDINGS
  • Sources of Inorganic/Organic Contamination
  • Volatile Organic Compounds/Pesticides/Cleaners
  • Control Strategies
• TOXICOLOGY OF BUILDING MATERIALS
  • Pollutant Behaviour of Building Materials
  • Selecting/Conditioning/Specification of Building Materials
  • Installation and Maintenance Procedures
• THERMAL COMFORT AND MVAC SYSTEM MAINTENANCE
  • Comfort, Temperature and Humidity
  • Air Movement, Circulation and Filtration
  • Operation and Maintenance of Building Services
• PROTOCOL FOR THE EVALUATION OF SICK BUILDINGS AND IAQ
  • Background Information
  • Walkthroughs and Questionnaire
  • Surveys Assessment Equipments and Aids

Course Leaders

Dr Quah Lee Kiang FRICS
Dr Quah is the Director of the Real Estate & Construction Centre and the Real Estate & Construction Academy in Singapore. She has extensive regional and international experience in Project and Facilities Management & Maintenance research, advice and academia.

Dr Quah led the EU funded project BE4213 Condition Assessment and Maintenance Strategies for Buildings and Building Components, which among other things, sought to develop an objective building condition assessment system. This project formed part of ongoing research over the last 20 years which culminated in Dutch Standard NEN 2767 on Condition Assessment of Buildings, believed to be a ‘world first’.

Dr Quah’s professional and research affiliations include being Coordinator of the International Council for Research and Innovation in Building and Construction (CIB) Working Commission 70 on Facilities Management and Maintenance for a decade and past President of the Chartered Institute of Building Singapore Centre.  She was also a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) Asia Board, Singapore Board and Asia Pacific Sustainability Board.

Dr Quah was conferred an Honorary Fellow by Oxford Brookes University for her work in real estate and construction education and the unusual impact her career has had on this particular academic field in Asia.

Course Dates
Friday 3 Dec 2021 / Wednesday 13 Apr 2022

Course Fees
$615 nett per person. Course fees includes full colour course documentation and refreshments at tea breaks. 

All Singaporeans aged 25 and above can use their $500 SkillsFuture Credit from the government to pay for a wide range of approved skills-related courses. Visit the SkillsFuture Credit website (www.skillsfuture.sg/credit) to choose from the courses available on the Training Exchange course directory. NTUC members may claim up to $250 under the Union Training Assistance Programme (UTAP). 

Course Accreditation and Certificate of Attendance
The course has been approved for 7 PDU units under the PE Board Continuing Professional Development programme. Attendance certificates will be issued; they may also be suitable for meeting the CPD requirements of other relevant professional bodies not operating a CPD course accreditation system.

Who should attend
The course will benefit those who have a vested interest in buildings including:

• Developers
• Building Owners
• Government Officials
• Architects
• Engineers
• Project Managers
• Quantity Surveyors
• Contractors/Sub-Contractors/Suppliers
• Property Managers
• Facilities Managers
• Maintenance Managers
• Management Corporations
• Town Councils
• and Others

Cancellations
Cancellations made one week before the scheduled commencement date of the course will be subjected to an administrative fee of $100.00. The full fee of $615.00 will be payable thereafter for any cancellation; substitutions can be made at any time.

Registration & Enquiries
Mr Ken Chew
Tel: 6563 4166
Fax: 6563 4156
E-mail: exectrg@recc.com.sg

Please note:
It may be necessary for reasons beyond RECC’s control, to change the content and timing of the programme and the identity of the course leader/s.