Air Quality Concerns Rock Belmopan Office Building

The Social Security Board is responding to reports of carbon dioxide exposure at the David L. McKoy Building in Belmopan, marking the latest challenge for a structure that has struggled with persistent infrastructural problems since opening in 2021. In a statement to News Five, the SSB said it moved quickly once it became aware of the issue. The board immediately began identifying the source of the problem, researching possible solutions, and launching a tendering process to permanently fix the situation. News Five has reliably learned that United Nations organizations occupying the second floor were forced to vacate the building for several weeks. The Caribbean Community Climate Change Centre, which occupied the fourth floor, also temporarily relocated. Meanwhile, the two call centers operating on the first and third floors continued to occupy the building. Health experts warn that long term exposure to carbon dioxide in poorly ventilated indoor spaces can cause serious health problems. According to the SSB, its investigations found that inadequate ventilation contributed to poor indoor air quality within the building. In response, the board installed Energy Recovery Ventilator systems on the second and third floors, along with an air quality monitoring system. Workers are now installing similar systems on the remaining two floors. The board explained that the ERV units improve ventilation by replacing stale indoor air with fresh outdoor air while maintaining energy efficiency. The SSB says it continues to closely monitor the system’s implementation.

 

Attention readers: This online newscast is a direct transcript of our evening television broadcast. When speakers use Kriol, we have carefully rendered their words using a standard spelling system.

 

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