Air Systems Cleaning Specialist (ASCS) Practice Exam

The term Building Related Illness (BRI) refers specifically to medically recognized diseases or disorders that are caused by factors within a building. This includes a variety of health problems that can be definitively diagnosed and typically require medical attention. The symptoms associated with BRI can be directly linked to environmental quality and exposure to harmful substances, such as biological agents, chemical toxins, or physical hazards found in the indoor environment.

This differs from concepts like Sick Building Syndrome, which describes a situation where individuals experience acute health effects that may be linked to time spent in a building, but without a specific illness being diagnosed. Allergic reactions to dust and interior mold contamination can contribute to BRI, but they are not in themselves comprehensive definitions of the term. BRI encapsulates the broader scope of illnesses recognized in a clinical context, emphasizing that there are tangible health conditions tied to the indoor environment.