New best-practice guidance on safeguarding indoor air quality (IAQ) during wildfires and prescribed burns has been issued by ASHARE.
It comes as wildfire events increasingly impact communities worldwide, such as in Los Angeles this month, when 24 people were killed and an estimated 12,000 properties destroyed.
ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024, Protecting building occupants from smoke during wildfire and prescribed burn events outlines best practices for building design, operation and maintenance to reduce the health risks associated with prolonged exposure to wildfire and prescribed-burn smoke.
The guidance is designed for application to commercial buildings, institutional facilities (including healthcare), multi-unit residential buildings, and designated safe spaces for temporary occupancy during smoke events.
There is a focus on vulnerable populations and recommendations for spaces occupied by at-risk groups, such as children and the elderly.
Best-practice guidance covers the design phase for new-build and retrofits, as well as the installation, commissioning, operation and maintenance of building envelopes, ventilation systems and air-cleaning technologies to mitigate smoke infiltration and improve IAQ.
ASHRAE’s president M. Dennis Knight, said: ‘Protecting building occupants from the harmful effects of wildfire smoke is critical to preserving their health and overall wellbeing.’
