SBS also known as "sick building syndrome", can be caused by insufficient maintenance of a building, failure to subscribe to the original operating procedures, or by a poor building design. The activities of the occupants in a building may also contribute to sick building syndrome. Whatever the cause, sick building syndrome causes serious health effects on those who use the building, although a specific illness or cause of illness if often not identified. These health effects include nausea, headaches, dry skin, coughing and irritation of the eyes, ears and nose. Sick building syndrome can affect a localized area of a building or it can spread throughout the entire building.

The major causes of sick building syndrome are both indoor and outdoor chemical and biological contaminants, as well as poor air flow and exchange in the building. Air quality management is the first step in controlling and preventing sick building syndrome. It is essential the HVAC systems meet the ventilation standards in local building codes, and upkeep and maintenance of these systems is necessary. Good maintenance and monitoring of a building can ensure that sick building syndrome does not occur. The most important factors in dealing with sick building syndrome involve removing the source of the pollutants, increasing air distribution and ventilation rates, educating the occupants with regards to effectively preventing sick building syndrome, and air cleaning to control particles and ventilation.