HEALTH, PERFORMANCE AND WELL-BEING IN OFF ICE BUILDINGS - THE PROKLIMA-PROJECT

The interdisciplinary scientific group ''ProKlimA'' has begun a four-y ear study into the causes of, and factors influencing, sick building s yndrome. 16 buildings in different parts of Germany will be studied. T he schedule for the field investigation comprises 2 or 3 main phases: an inspection of the building and HVAC system, an initial questionnair e survey of all occupants working in the building and a project consul tation based on feedback from the data analysis. A second occupant que stionnaire survey with simultaneous clinical tests and building measur ements will be performed on a subsample of 120 occupants. After a seco nd data analysis and project consultation, ProKlimA will decide whethe r to carry out an intervention study in the building, or not. First re sults from 8 buildings investigated during 1995/96 show high inter-bui lding variations in psycho-social, medical and ergonomic factors, envi ronmental variables, and design and maintenance of HVAC systems.