Smoke filtration

[wickedspins]

Hi,
I have a project where the building is located in a rural area. When there's a forest fire, some of the wood smoke particles get into the building through the outside air intake at the air handler. I'm not sure what air filter is being used at the air handler. Has anyone dealt with this and can point me in the right direction? Would using a higher MERV filter be adequate to filter out smoke particles? Or would electromechanical filtration be the way to go? Any other filtration systems?

I am looking at AtmosAir (

http://www.atmosair.com/commercial/commercial-products.html),

but not sure how well the products work.

Thanks.

 

[berkshire]

If you can stand the cost, you might look at an electrostatic precipitator in the supply duct.
B.E.

"A free people ought not only be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government."
-George Washington, President of the United States----

 

[trashcanman]

Meanwhile, what is the smoke detector (you do have one, don't you?) doing? Just watching as the wood smoke particles fly by?

 

[wickedspins]

Meanwhile, what is the smoke detector (you do have one, don't you?) doing? Just watching as the wood smoke particles fly by?

I'm not talking about a building full of smoke that it would trip the smoke detectors. A wildfire could be miles away and the building is not in a danger area, but the outdoor air quality is bad. The point is to improve indoor air quality so that people with asthma, people who may experience health effects from lower level of CO, etc. can breathe easier. Smoke detectors will just be sitting there and not detect anything.

It looks like I can opt to go with HEPA filter, carbon activated filter, portable units and/or using electrostatic that berkshire mentioned. I think AtmosAir products are a type of electrostatic precipitatior, but more for commercial use. I was just wondering if there are any new technology out there that we can look into. HEPA filter is a possibility, but we probably have to change out all the fans for higher static pressures.

 

[Compositepro]

You will need a carbon filter to remove the odor from the air, which is the main problem.

 

[urgross]

Try Febreeze. It works on television.