Protect Indoor Air Quality from Wildfire Smoke with NPBI™ Technology

As Canada is facing its record-worst wildfire season, those of us living south of Quebec and Ontario can feel the effects of the smoke on the air quality – both outdoor and indoor. To protect your facility’s Indoor Air Quality, you will need strong filtration in your HVAC System.  

What is happening with wildfires right now? 

Many areas of the East Coast of the United States have been under air quality alerts with Air Quality Indexes still measuring in the “moderate” range after weeks of work to quell the fires. Fine particle levels in New York City reached over 460 μg/m3 in early June, according to the city government’s Environmental and Health Data Portal – one of the highest particle levels in the city ever recorded. 

Wildfires are not the standard in the Eastern U.S., but Canada and the West Coast are no stranger to the flames and smoke. Wildfire season comes in the summer months, as they are often triggered by high temperatures and dry weather, as well as strong winds and human activity like campfires. Abundant vegetation serves as flammable fodder to spread the fires wide. 

Smoke from wildfires, and poor air quality in general, can be harmful to groups with already-sensitive respiratory systems such as people with asthma or children and the elderly. Additionally, exposure to air pollution can lead to symptoms such as coughing, congestion, throat irritation, chest pain, and reduced lung function, as well as the development of airway diseases, allergies, hypertension, cardiac arrest and more, according to the National Institute of Health.  

And, as the climate warms each year, weather reaches new extremes and hotter temperatures create a favorable environment for wildfires. Forest burn in the Quebec region is likely to double by 2050, based on 2015 projections from Harvard University’s John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. 

Protecting your facility’s Indoor Air Quality from the effects of wildfire smoke 

Now is a good time to invest in effective filtration for your HVAC system. A fantastic option is needlepoint bipolar ionization (NPBI™) technology from GPS Air. Testing shows that, when partnered with a typical MERV 8 air filter, NPBI can remove an average of 99.8% of submicron particles in 4 air changes, compared to just 47.7% removed by a MERV 8 filter alone. This removal efficiency is comparable to that of a HEPA filter! 

NPBI™ tech uses your existing HVAC system to disperse ions into a space, which then bond with particles in the air to create clusters of pollutant particles. The larger those clusters become, the easier it is for your filter to catch them. 

If you’re interested in NPBI™ technology from GPS, we at Hoffman & Hoffman can help you figure out the best option for your HVAC System. Contact one of our sales engineers today!