LORIS, South Carolina, United States, 9 August 2024: Thermal dispersion airflow and psychrometric measurement solutions company, Ebtron said discussions about Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) have taken a renewed interest after a record number of wildfires in Canada and the western part of the United States. Making the announcement through a Press Release, Ebtron said recent events have put the Air Quality Index (AQI) in the unhealthy to hazardous levels. With the increase in wildfires and other events that release contaminants into the air, Ebtron said, it is good practice to have contingency plan 3, 4 that can be implemented to keep the people indoors protected from the bad outdoor air while also protecting them from contaminants generated indoors.

According to Ebtron, it is essential to ensure adequate filtration to defend against harmful particles. Inherent in that is the need to maintain an inventory of additional MERV 11 filters at a minimum for use on all outdoor air inlets, the need to verify that existing filtration systems have correct MERV ratings and fit well without air gaps, and the need to add in-room filtration systemsm as needed.

Ebtron said it is important to ensure that ventilation is compliant with building codes, which would include the need to directly measure with installed flow measurement or validate by an Accredited TAB professional, and the need to inspect, maintain and monitor the system often.

Ebtron also recommended maintain positive building pressurization, for which it would be necessary to ensure windows and doors are properly closed, and to control the pressurisation flow by ensuring the ventilation rates exceed exhaust and relief rates during all operation and dynamic reset modes.

Ebtron quoted the ASHRAE Journal on its Smoke Readiness Plan: “Optimise System Airflows – Assess and maintain adequate airflows that are protective of human health and equipment health during smoke events. Prior to wildfire season, determine an outdoor air intake level that controls odor, temperature, indoor contaminant levels and maintains a positive building pressure consistent with the building and HVAC system design.”

Filtering, ventilation and pressure control are the foundation of maintaining a healthy building during normal operation and an outdoor event such as a wildfire, Ebtron said. Integrating airflow measuring devices into a building automation system, Ebtron said, allows for automatic or manual adjustment of ventilation rates, as conditions change, preparing buildings for future ventilation needs. Ebtron said these devices also indicate when filters need replacement. Ebtron invoked the old adage, ‘If you don’t measure it, you can’t control it’. The company added that effective measurement and control are crucial for upgrading or setting up HVAC systems, with minimal costs compared to the potential future impact of ventilation issues.