Protecting Building Occupants from Wildfire Smoke

Wildfire smoke presents significant health risks, especially for commercial building occupants who may be exposed to fine particulate matter (PM2.5), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and other harmful pollutants. The ASHRAE Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events provides essential guidance for facility managers, building owners, and safety professionals to mitigate these risks.

Key Steps for Indoor Air Protection: 

1. Assess & Plan
2. Monitor Outdoor & Indoor Air Quality
3. Optimize Ventilation & Filtration
4. Seal & Protect
5. Communicate & Respond

The Importance of ASHRAE Standard 44 -- Why ASHRAE Standard 44 Matters for Building Safety

ASHRAE Standard 44 is a comprehensive guideline that addresses the critical need to protect building occupants from the hazardous smoke produced by wildfires and prescribed burns. This standard provides essential strategies for minimizing smoke infiltration, maintaining indoor air quality (IAQ), and ensuring occupant safety during wildfire events.

• Wildfire smoke contains harmful particulates and toxins that compromise health.
• Buildings can act as shelters, but only if their ventilation and filtration systems meet modern standards.
• Complying with ASHRAE 44 ensures your facility has the best defense against smoke intrusion.

 

How to Meet ASHRAE Standard 44 Requirements - Steps to Comply with ASHRAE Standard 44

ASHRAE Standard 44 outlines a series of best practices and design recommendations to protect your building from wildfire smoke:

1. Optimizing Ventilation Systems – Ensure proper airflow and reduce smoke infiltration by utilizing high-efficiency filters.
2. Upgrading Filtration Systems – Use MERV 13 or higher-rated filters to trap harmful particles and improve IAQ.
3. Monitoring Indoor Air Quality – Install real-time air quality monitoring systems to detect and respond to changes in IAQ immediately.
4. Sealing the Building Envelope – Eliminate entry points for smoke by improving building seals and doors.

 

Your Comprehensive Solution for Wildfire Smoke Protection - Our Advanced Solutions for ASHRAE 44 Compliance

We offer a suite of IAQ monitoring and ventilation testing solutions to help your facility comply with ASHRAE 44. Our products ensure continuous monitoring against smoke, helping to keeping your building and occupants safe.

• Real-Time IAQ Monitoring – Continuous tracking of indoor air quality, ensuring your building is always protected.
• Efficient Ventilation Testing Meters – Spot check popular areas to ensure the HVAC is working properly, keeping the bad air out and the good air in.
• Early Detection Environmental Monitoring – Assess the air quality by conducting thorough air quality assessments in the affected areas to determine the extent of pollution and any residual risks.

 

Enhancing Your Building’s Air Quality Strategy

To effectively implement these recommendations, real-time air quality monitoring plays a crucial role. Our advanced air monitoring solutions provide accurate, continuous data on particulate matter, gases, and overall indoor air conditions. With this information, building managers can make informed decisions to protect occupants from hazardous smoke exposure.

 

• ASHRAE offers guidance here: ASHRAE Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire Events
• For a more detailed guide, ASHRAE published this comprehensive Guideline 44 in 2024: Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events