Safeguarding Workspaces Against Wildfire Smoke: An Indoor Air Quality Guide

In today's climate, where wildfires are increasingly prevalent, businesses face the critical challenge of protecting their indoor environments from the insidious infiltration of wildfire smoke. This smoke, laden with a complex mixture of pollutants, including the particularly harmful fine particulate matter (PM2.5), poses a serious threat to employee health and workplace safety. This guide offers businesses an understanding of the components of wildfire smoke and presents a suite of targeted strategies to improve indoor air quality, ensuring the health and productivity of the workforce remain uncompromised. Embracing these measures not only enhances the resilience of businesses against the pervasive threat of wildfire smoke but also sets a standard for proactive health and safety practices in the modern workplace. 

Wildfire smoke contains a variety of air pollutants, including gaseous pollutants, hazardous air pollutants (HAPs), and the most concerning – particulate matter PM2.5. PM2.5 in wildfire smoke is a serious health concern due to its tiny size, allowing it to penetrate deep into the lungs. Extended exposure to PM2.5 can lead to exacerbated asthma, bronchitis, diminished lung function, and cardiovascular issues. Employing protective measures such as utilizing air purifiers and HVAC filters, wearing masks, avoiding specific activities, and limiting your time outdoors is imperative in mitigating the exposure and negative health effects of pollutants in wildfire smoke. 

Wildfire smoke can easily enter your building through your HVAC system through your fresh air intake, open windows and doors, and even through cracks or small openings lining your windows. Here are five methods for filtering air quality and mitigating the health effects of wildfire smoke pollutants: 

1. Use an Air Purifier 

Portable air purifiers like the Beyond Guardian with HEPA filtration can filter out and reduce 91% of airborne PM2.5 smoke within ten minutes. True HEPA filtration has a 99.97% efficiency in reducing airborne particulates as small as 0.3 microns and is effective for up to twelve months.  

2. Install an HVAC Filter  

MERV 13 and MERV 17 filters are recommended to filter smoke particles. Both filters effectively filter out particles between 0.3-3.0 microns, but MERV 17 provides better filtration capabilities. MERV 13 filters out over 85% of 0.3-micron particles, whereas MERV 17 filters out over 95% of 0.3-micron particles. 

3. Use N95 or KN95 Face Masks 

N95 and KN95 masks provide similar protection, filtering out approximately 95% of particles with a size of ≥0.3 microns.  

4. Avoid Certain Activities 

The EPA recommends avoiding the following activities that can produce more fine particles: smoking cigarettes, using gas, propane, or wood-burning stoves and furnaces, using aerosol products, frying or broiling food, burning candles or incense, and vacuuming (unless the vacuum has a HEPA filter). 

5. Limit Your Time Outdoors 

Outdoor exposure to wildfire smoke is unhealthy for everyone. A helpful reference is the Air Quality Index, which warns about specific air quality levels that affect different groups. Sensitive groups with respiratory problems are advised to limit continual outdoor exertion when the AQI for particle pollution reaches 101-150. Air quality is typically deemed unhealthy for everyone in cases of continual outdoor exertion when the air quality reaches an AQI value of 151. 

As we face the increasing challenges of wildfire smoke, it's clear that taking proactive steps to safeguard indoor air quality is more important than ever. By understanding the pollutants present in wildfire smoke and implementing effective strategies, such as utilizing air purifiers with HEPA filters, installing high-efficiency HVAC filters, wearing appropriate masks, avoiding activities that worsen indoor air quality, and limiting outdoor exposure, individuals can significantly reduce the health risks associated with smoke exposure. Preparedness and knowledge are key to mitigating the health hazards of wildfire smoke indoors, ensuring cleaner air and a better quality of life for everyone.