How Wildfire Smoke Affects Your Building's Indoor Air Quality

Wildfires compromise air quality, not only outdoors but indoors. Although weather warnings and officials advise to stay indoors in the scenario that a nearby wildfire pollutes the air, we have to question what we, our tenants and our employees are breathing indoors. Particles and gases from wildfire smoke like carbon monoxide, ozone, volatile organic compounds and fine particulate matter, can enter buildings in several ways altering our indoor air quality (iAQ). Exposure to these pollutants pose serious short and long term health risks. Wildfire smoke can travel hundreds to thousands of kilometres, so it is imperative to have measures in place that help you assess your iAQ.

WellStat is an iAQ + Energy Management Software platform used by property owners and operators to responsibly assure healthy air quality conditions indoors. WellStat helps building operators provide the safest environment possible for building occupants. With its 14+ sensors, WellStat tracks in real-time several contaminants which impact the health and wellness associated with indoor air quality. WellStat’s data is actionable and can alert you when to cycle outside air (even when dirty) to drive out impurities, like CO2, that may be affecting your indoor air quality. In the case of wildfires, fine particulate matter is extremely important to measure. PM2.5 are particles much smaller than the diameter of a human hair and small enough to inhale making PM2.5 detrimental to your health. WellStat’s Dashboard can filter sensors to provide you real time alerts on data that matters and ensure you’re providing the healthiest air quality possible.

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Check out the Interactive AQI Map below:

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