Advisory Panel
Wildfire Smoke and Indoor Air Quality
Wildfire smoke affecting your Indoor Air Quality?
Fine particles are the most dangerous element of smoke, and they are generated whenever organic materials burn. These tiny particles pose the greatest threat to our health due to their size, easily entering our lungs whether we are indoors or outdoors. Particles of this type have been linked to allergy-like symptoms, bronchitis and heart and lung diseases, even to premature deaths in individuals with underlying health conditions.
Wildfire Smoke Live Readings
We don’t need to be near an active wildfire for atmospheric conditions to carry the effects over to us. Wind currents, often bolstered by temperature and relative humidity, effectively carry smoke and dust particles far and wide. The graphs below feature data collected over a 24 hour period near Toronto, Ontario.
The chart above illustrates relative humidity over a 10 hour period
The chart above illustrates particulate matter (PM2.5) over a 10 hour period
Despite being nearly 1500km away from the nearest source of wildfire, our sensors detected an incredibly high PM 2.5 reading. Typical values for PM 2.5 tend to fall below 15 ug/m^3. As you can see from the chart on the right, at 2pm levels rose to a staggering 200 ug/m^3. According to the EPA, particulate matter concentration thresholds that range from 150-250 ug/m^3 are considered very unhealthy, and exposure time must be as limited as possible.
Wildfire Smoke & Indoor Air Quality: AQSafe
Fine particles can enter your facility through open windows, doors, or any other natural ventilation system. Smoke particles are also often tracked into indoor spaces via mechanical ventilation systems. Poor HVAC filtration not only fails to capture incoming particles but effectively traps them indoors as well.
The most important step to protecting your facility from ambient wildfire smoke negatively impacting your indoor air quality is to establish a better understanding of the surrounding ambient air. This can be done through an indoor air quality monitoring device – the AQSafe. These indoor air quality monitors observe IAQ with up to 12 sensor varieties, including pressure, temperature, relative humidity, and GPS.
Monitoring your HVAC Systems
If your AQSafe displays a dust warning, immediately investigate your central HVAC system and find out if it has a fresh air intake. If it does, investigate further by placing the system in recirculation mode.
Check the condition of the HVAC filter, make sure it fits comfortably in the filter slot, and have it replaced as recommended by the manufacturer. To capture smoke particles, a MERV 13 filter or higher may be necessary. With higher-rated air filtration, your HVAC system might need to be updated to accommodate your new airflow resistance. Once completed, the readings provided by your AQSafe will then reflect your upgraded indoor air quality, ensuring a safe and productive indoor space.
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