Architectural Variables Contributing to Sick Building Syndrome in Buildings
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.24252/nature.v13i1a10Keywords:
Sick Building Syndrome, architectural design, occupant health, Indoor Air Quality, prevention strategiesAbstract
This study aims to identify architectural variables that contribute to the occurrence of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and to analyze their relationship with occupants’ health and comfort. Using a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) method with a PRISMA approach, the study examines scientific articles published between 2019 and 2025. The findings indicate that the primary variables contributing to SBS include indoor air quality, ventilation, natural lighting, thermal conditions, and building materials. In addition to physical factors, psychosocial aspects influenced by design-such as spatial density and lack of privacy-also exacerbate SBS symptoms. This study underscores the importance of holistic and adaptive architectural design and provides a scientific foundation for the development of healthy building standards in tropical countries.
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References
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Amaliah Natsir & Sainah. (2025). Pengaruh Kualitas Fisik Udara terhadap Kejadian Sick Building Syndrome pada Pegawai Gedung Menara UMI Makassar. Sehat Rakyat: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 4(1), 13–23. https://doi.org/10.54259/sehatrakyat.v4i1.4097
ASHRAE. (2019). Ventilation for acceptable indoor air quality: ANSI/ASHRAE standard 62.1. American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers.
Evans, G. W., & Cohen, S. (1987). Environmental Stress. In D. Stokols & I. Altman (Eds.), Handbook of Environmental Psychology (Vol. 1). https://www.cmu.edu/dietrich/psychology/stress-immunity-disease-lab/publications/environmentalstress/pdfs/environstress.pdf
Glass, D. C., & Singer, J. E. (1972). Urban Stress: Experiments on Noise and Social Stressors. Academic Press.
Hikmat, Y. P., Wellid, I., Sumeru, K., Az-zahro, S. D., & bin Sukri, M. F. (2021). Relationship Between Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome in Post Office Building in Bandung. International Journal of Applied Technology Research, 2(2), 136–145.
International WELL Building Institute. (2020). WELL v2: The WELL Building Standard. International WELL Building Institute. https://www.wellcertified.com/certification/v2/
Isman, N. I. I., Jalaludin, J., Suhaimi, N. F., Hashim, F., & Tualeka, A. R. (2024). Association Between Indoor Air Quality and Sick Building Syndrome Among Workers in Food Outlets in Selangor, Malaysia. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan, 16(4), 331–341. https://doi.org/10.20473/jkl.v16i4.2024.331-341
Kaplan, R., & Kaplan, S. (1989). The Experience of Nature: A Psychological Perspective. Cambridge University Press.
Kellert, S. R., & Calabrese, E. F. (2015). The Practice of Biophilic Design. Terrapin Bright Green LLC.
Lei, Q., Lau, S. S. Y., Yuan, C., & Qi, Y. (2022). Post-occupancy Evaluation of The Biophilic Design in the Workplace for Health and Wellbeing. Buildings, 12(417). https://doi.org/10.3390/buildings12040417
Orkomi, A. A. (2024). Impacts of environmental parameters on sick building syndrome prevalence among residents: A walk‑through survey in Rasht, Iran. Archives of Public Health, 82(247). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13690-024-01486-z
Redlich, C. A., Sparer, J., & Cullen, M. R. (1997). Sick-building Syndrome. The Lancet, 349(9057), 1013–1016. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(96)07220-0
Sahri, M., & Hutapea, O. (2019). Penilaian Kualitas Udara Ruang Pada Gedung Perkantoran di Kota Surabaya. Journal of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.21111/jihoh.v4i1.3130
Salvaraji, L., Shamsudin, S. B., Avoi, R., Saupin, S., Sai, K. S., Asan, S. B., Toha, H. R. B., & Jeffree, M. S. (2022). Ecological Study of Sick Building Syndrome among Healthcare Workers at Johor Primary Care Facilities. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(17099). https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192417099
Sani, H. A., Surahman, U., Kubota, T., & Hildebrandt, S. (2019). Indoor Air Quality and Its Effects on Health among Urban Residents in Jakarta and Surabaya, Indonesia. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 294(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/294/1/012096
Savanti, F., Hardiman, G., & Setyowati, E. (2019). Pengaruh Ventilasi Alami Terhadap Sick Building Syndrome. Arsitektura Jurnal Ilmiah Arsitektur Dan Lingkungan Binaan, 17(2), 211–220. https://doi.org/10.20961/arst.v17i2.30440
Sonia, G., Putri, E. C., Utami, D., & Handayani, P. (2025). Faktor-Faktor yang Berhubungan dengan Gejala Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) pada Pekerja Staff di Gedung Operasional PT. XYZ Tahun 2024. Sehat Rakyat: Jurnal Kesehatan Masyarakat, 4(1), 24–33. https://doi.org/10.54259/sehatrakyat.v4i1.4107
Wibisono, A. R., Nurjazuli, Tri Joko, & Suhartono. (2022). Faktor Risiko Kejadian Sick Building Syndrome Pada Pegawai Dinas Lingkungan Hidup dan Kehutanan Provinsi Jawa Tengah. Jurnal Kesehatan Lingkungan, 19(2), 275–282. https://doi.org/10.31964/jkl.v19i2.493
World Health Organization. (1983). Indoor Air Pollutants: Exposure and Health Effects. EURO Reports and Studies 78.
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Published
2026-06-06
How to Cite
Etiwu, E., Hasfi, W., & Bachtiar, A. A. F. (2026). Architectural Variables Contributing to Sick Building Syndrome in Buildings. Nature: National Academic Journal of Architecture, 13(1), 127–135. https://doi.org/10.24252/nature.v13i1a10
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Copyright (c) 2026 Etiwu Etiwu, Wahyudi Hasfi, Andi Ahmad Fauzan Bachtiar
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