2. What You Don’t Know Can Kill You

In this episode, Greg Nilsson and Mike Gallagher, P.E., Fellow ASHRAE,  discuss their personal histories dealing with smoke events before diving into the new planning framework from ASHRAE Guideline Project Committee 44P, Protecting Building Occupants from Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events (2:05).

They talk about the importance of the framework as it establishes the significance of planning for these prescribed smoke events or wildfires (8:40) instead of waiting until the event is happening to purchase air filters and other tools.

Greg and Mike dive into the framework, including air filters, such as MERV 13 (14:30), outside air intake (19:20), lite building pressurization (19:00) and economizers (20:55). They also discuss how to deal with smoke-induced odor (11:50) and the health implications of these smoke events (11:55). Going deeper into the health implications, Greg discusses PM2.5 (12:20).

Resources:

• Read GPC 44P’s “Planning Framework for Protecting Commercial Building Occupants From Smoke During Wildfire Events.”
• Dive deeper into the topic with an ASHRAE Journal IEQ Applications column from March 2021 on “Protecting Building Occupants From Smoke During Wildfire and Prescribed Burn Events.”