Since 1998, the wildfire season has been steadily growing longer, with it now spanning 7 months out of the year according to the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA). And that length is only expected to keep growing. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the wildfire season affected roughly 6.2 million people with smoke exposure between 1998 and 2017.

In the United States, the West Coast is generally viewed as the region where wildfires are the most prevalent due primarily to the drier climates as a result of adjoining desert biomes. However, this year has showcased that the eastern United States, traditionally viewed as being home to some of the wettest climates in the country, is not immune to the dangers of wildfire smoke, as one of the biggest wildfires to date rages in Northern Canada.

All this to say that as the years progress, it is very likely homeowners across the United States will be faced with situations that involve an overall worsening of outdoor air conditions due to wildfire smoke. And as these events occur, the common guidance so far (and will likely continue to be) an order to remain indoors, despite it being far from the perfect solution as indoor air is commonly 2 – 5 times more polluted than outdoor air.

This leaves integrators in a unique position, especially as HVAC systems become more compatible with smart home systems and manufacturers develop scalable indoor air quality management solutions for professionals. What once might have been a cumbersome or expensive system to tap into is now far more accessible for CE pros, and with it comes a lot more integrators can offer to homeowners in regions commonly affected by wildfire smoke.

To help building professionals grapple with the extra bit of learning around designing such a system, Manish Sharma, vice president and chief product officer of Honeywell Connected Buildings, spoke on Honeywell’s strategies reducing occupant exposure to wildfire smoke indoors as it rises to unhealthy levels outside of the home.

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“To promote better air quality in situations like these, buildings should consider utilizing automated and sophisticated sensing, filtration, air purification and air circulation solutions,” states Sharma.

What is Wildfire Smoke?

When wildfire smoke is being discussed, the biggest threat it poses to human health is exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) that can be comprised of plant matter, aerosolized building materials (in the event of it reaching a neighborhood, and other harmful chemical compounds like VOCs, Carbon Monoxide, and Nitrogen Dioxide.

What makes wildfire smoke so tricky to reduce exposure to, is how pervasive it can be once released into the atmosphere. Wildfire smoke and its associated chemicals can remain present in the atmosphere and outside air for weeks, and will often give the air this hazy look due to the sheer size and number of particles it releases.

In areas such as the Western United States, this smoke can become so thick and hazardous that is more dangerous to go outside than it is to stay inside.

“When the outdoor air index reaches unhealthy levels, it is advisable to avoid introducing external air indoors,” says Sharma.

However, that does not mean the indoor air quality is significantly better than outside.

“The main concern then becomes ensuring the maintenance of healthy indoor air when the option to bring in fresh air is not available,” he concludes.

Effects of Wildfire Smoke

According to the EPA, exposure to fine particle pollution can cause respiratory and cardiovascular health issues. While everyone is at risk during periods of heavy wildfire smoke, those that are the most at risk are children and older adults.

Individuals with specific heart and lung conditions are also at greater risk during these times, as well as women who are pregnant, as the wildfire smoke can greatly affect the development of the fetus during this time.

Ways to Reduce Wildfire Smoke Exposure Using at Home Systems

For building professionals looking to develop systems that can help reduce occupant exposure to wildfire smoke and other forms of outdoor pollution, Honeywell outlines three tips.

1. Continually Assess and Communicate the Indoor Air Quality

Systems aimed at cleaning the air should utilize indoor air quality sensors to monitor CO2, TVOC, temperature, relative humidity and PM2.5, Honeywell notes. The PM2.5 is especially important to monitor, as it is a particularly fine particulate matter that can travel deep into the respiratory system.

The sensors will help analyze data, track trends, and alert other in the event of indoor air becoming unsafe. These sensors can also be made to work with external data, such as weather or wildfire reports to anticipate poor air quality events and adjust building systems accordingly.

There’s also value in being able to communicate indoor air quality levels in both residential and commercial properties, Honeywell notes. According to the 2023 Honeywell Healthy Buildings Survey data, 82% of office workers want to be informed about their building’s IAQ ‘often’ or ‘sometimes.’

At the same time, building professionals should be actively educating clients on the value of indoor air quality data and what it means in terms of occupant health at large.

2. Ventilation Remains Paramount

The simplest, cheapest, and most effective way to ventilate is to open a window. However, during periods of high outdoor air pollution, such as with wildfire smoke, or during the winter, this is rather inadvisable.

Still, the CDC recommends that, even in an enclosed space, a certain rate of ventilation be maintained. This is not only to direct unclean air towards purifiers and air cleaners, but also to help maintain thermal comfort. The best way is to orient mechanical ventilation devices, such as fans. Buildings can also tap into the building’s HVAC system to help maintain safer IAQ levels through adequate ventilation.

More advanced tactics can even use pressurization technologies to better control the flow of air within a building. “Control of air pressure, both positive and negative, inside a building is key to providing comfort and preventing outdoor contaminants from entering a space,” states Sharma.

“A slight positive pressure will prevent hot outside air from penetrating into the building during the summer, and negative pressure during the winter can maintain humidity by allowing outside air into the building.”

3. When Outside Air is Dangerous, Filtration and Purification Become Paramount

One of the most effective ways to improve IAQ is to clean existing indoor air, especially when outdoor air ventilation is limited. There are a variety of filtration and purification technologies that can eliminate contaminants from a building’s air supply, Honeywell notes.

The gold standard for air filtration remains the HEPA filter. These filters can capture particulates of 0.01 micron and greater with an extraordinary efficiency by diffusion and interception mechanisms.

Air quality devices recognized and certified by third-party organizations like Allergy Standards or the EPA are also vital in creating a healthier indoor environment.

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