Introduction: In May 2013, five employees at a bank branch reported irritant and respiratory symptoms coinciding with the perception of a “pungent odor,” prompting the fire department to respond and leading to the closure of the premises. Management agreed to the investigation proposed by the Cire following a report from the occupational health physician. The objectives were to: identify cases and describe symptoms; contextualize and supplement the environmental investigations already undertaken; and formulate etiological hypotheses. Method: A questionnaire was sent to the cases identified by the occupational health physician. Incidents and construction work that occurred in the branch and nearby were documented with the employees, and the composition of the products used was determined by the Poison Control Center. Expert reports on ventilation and air analyses were reviewed. Results: The incident involved 7 confirmed cases (including 2 local residents) and 8 probable cases, presenting with a tickling sensation in the throat, respiratory distress, and loss of voice. Five cases sought medical care. The hypothesis put forward is exposure to TXIB (2,2,4-trimethylpentanediol-1,3 diisobutyrate), a low-volatility organic compound with a "pungent" odor present in trace amounts in the paint applied on May 27 at the agency. A positional isomer of TXIB was detected in significant concentrations in the indoor air of the offices on June 4, 2013: given the analytical uncertainty and the context, the laboratory indicated that the identified molecule was likely TXIB. Discussion: the layout of the premises may have facilitated the spread of paint fumes to neighboring residences. As the latest air analyses showed that the suspected exposure had ceased, the premises were reopened without incident on March 4, 2014. (R.A.)