Wildfire Monitoring: 5 Factors To Consider When Purchasing an IAQ Device
Wildfire Monitoring: 5 Factors to Consider When Purchasing an IAQ Device
Wildfire smoke is becoming a more prevalent and frequent issue for western states in the United States and is spreading to areas impacted by drought. It has even been coined as a new fifth season for some areas. Unfortunately, wildfire smoke can endanger the health of communities that it spreads into. According to an article by the Guardian, the number of people in the US exposed to unhealthy levels of wildfire smoke at least one day a year has increased 27-fold over the last decade. In 2020 alone, 25 million people breathed in potentially toxic air from wildfires.
Not only does this mean that going outside can be dangerous for people with certain health conditions, the elderly, or children, but it also can have a negative impact on indoor air quality. Recognizing that your workplace’s indoor air quality may decrease due to wildfire smoke in the area is key for the health and safety of your workers.
How Do You Monitor Indoor Air Quality?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) devices can help you measure your indoor air quality so you can make informed decisions that protect your workers and meet current state occupational requirements. Specifically, these devices on the market aim to measure the particles of wildfires that are a by-product of wildfire smoke. Wildfire smoke consists of particles ranging from 100 microns to less than 2.5 microns. Particles smaller than 2.5 microns are able to infiltrate deep into the lungs where they can cause scarring and inflammation that lead to negative health outcomes.
These particles can consist of:
- Soot and Ash
- Metals
- Dust and Soils
- Mold and pollen,
- Acids
- Hydrocarbons
To learn more about how to improve your office indoor air quality in general, check out our Indoor Air Quality Inspection Checklist for more information.
See the IAQ Inspection Checklist
Recently, Oregon and California OSHA state plans passed wildfire smoke standards requiring employers to measure and protect employees from PM2.5 exposure. Both states allow the use of the EPA NowCast Air Quality Index (AQI) as well as Direct-read IAQ instruments to measure the mass concentration (µg/m3) of particles to comply with the regulations.
Overall, whether looking at direct read instruments to stay compliant or to protect your employees’ health, these devices should be able to measure the concentration of airborne particle sizes ranging from 0.3µm-2.5µm. Devices should always be used according to manufacturers’ instructions for measurement.
However, this can create some cost barriers for small businesses and consumers due to annual calibration requirements or maintenance. Luckily, the proliferation of IAQ devices has exploded in the past few years to allow more options beyond commercial-grade options. However, this expanded market can also make choosing a device overwhelming and confusing.
For example, a search on one online sales platform returns 268 different IAQ monitoring products. However, not all IAQ monitors are made equal. In the age where manufacturers advertise a lower price point or better technology to stand out, it is hard to determine what instruments provide accurate measurement and which are missing the mark.
How to Choose The Right IAQ Monitor?
To help wade through the smoke, here are 5 key factors to look for when purchasing an IAQ or Direct-read instrument for wildfire smoke:
- Measures particles ranging from <0.3µg to 2.5µg in µg/m3 (Some may measure particle count, which is not useful)
- Product uses an optical sensor (laser particle counter)
- Product is accurate within 20%+-
- The manufacturer provides information on the specific brand of the sensor in use
- Information on how it was calibrated (smoke chamber, NIST tracible standard, Uniform polymer beads)
When it comes to scientific measurements, accuracy is paramount. Numbers mean nothing if they aren’t a reflection of reality. It’s even more important when your goal is to protect your worker’s health and/or stay compliant with OSHA regulations by monitoring indoor air quality. With the prevalence of wildfires increasing across the globe due to climate change, monitoring particulate matter from wildfire smoke will likely stay vital for years to come.
If you’re interested in learning more, check out our Industrial Hygiene services at Antea Group. There, you can get an expert evaluation and recommendations on quality measurement devices, rather than taking the risk of buying a device that has claims beyond its actual capability. After all, when it comes to the air you’re breathing indoors, accuracy matters.
About Antea Group
Antea®Group is an environment, health, safety, and sustainability consulting firm. By combining strategic thinking with technical expertise, we do more than effectively solve client challenges; we deliver sustainable results for a better future. We work in partnership with and advise many of the world’s most sustainable companies to address ESG-business challenges in a way that fits their pace and unique objectives. Our consultants equip organizations to better understand threats, capture opportunities and find their position of strength. Lastly, we maintain a global perspective on ESG issues through not only our work with multinational clients, but also through our sister organizations in Europe, Asia, and Latin America and as a founding member of the Inogen Alliance. Learn more at us.anteagroup.com.
