Sweaty Slab Syndrome and Humidity: Managing Building Conditions

The key factor that causes SSS to become a problem in buildings with concrete floors is humidity. Let's examine exactly what SSS is, its relationship to humidity, and how you can prevent this problem from endangering your staff and equipment.

What is Sweaty Slab Syndrome?
Sweaty Slab Syndrome is a phenomenon where moisture develops on the surface of a concrete floor. This problem happens most often in buildings that have issues with their climate control or HVAC solutions. SSS makes floors slippery and more dangerous for workers who are walking or driving forklifts or other kinds of machinery across the floor. One common problem with SSS, for example, is that it wreaks havoc on the way that a forklift operates its brakes. This leads to skidding and steering malfunctions that can cause personal injury and/or the destruction of valuable company inventory and equipment.

Besides the dangers that SSS poses to building and employee safety, it can also be challenging to diagnose. There may be one or multiple reasons that a building comes down with SSS, and the symptoms of this condition can vary in severity as time passes and seasons change. However, the most important element of climate control that should be monitored to get a handle on sweaty slab syndrome is humidity.

The Link Between Humidity and Sweaty Slab Syndrome
The reason that humidity causes Sweaty Slab Syndrome has to do with the natural dew point of air inside of a warehouse or large building. As windows and doors are opened and warm air is let in throughout the day, the air inside of the structure begins to increase in humidity to match outside humidity levels. As the humidity level in the air continues to rise, water vapor condenses on surfaces where the temperature is at or below the dew point. Concrete floors usually have cooler temperatures, which is why they are particularly susceptible to SSS.

Reducing Humidity to Solve Sweating Slab Syndrome
It's great to understand what SSS is and why it is caused, but this understanding alone doesn't help solve the problem.

In order to eliminate high levels of humidity, you need to create more airflow in the building so that it attains a more even temperature throughout the space. Another name for this technique is thermal equalization. When your temperature is more even throughout the building, it reduces humidity and minimizes condensation on your concrete floors.

The Bottom Line
Sweaty Slab Syndrome (SSS) can cause slip hazards and pose dangers to employees at your operation who have to operate forklifts or move carts or pallets around to get their work done. The key to preventing SSS is to get greater control over the humidity in your building. Building managers can do this by designing HVAC solutions that provide sufficient airflow based on the space they need to cool, so that humidity remains consistent throughout the building no matter what season it is.

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