Indoor Air Quality After a Fire

The air to your home or business after a fire can be a concern, to both homeowners and business owners. If you have been exposed to a fire, or have smoke, soot and ash damage from a recent fire, read on.

When a fire happens to your home or nearby proximity to your home, you need to be aware of the danger that lurks on the surfaces in your dwelling, as well as in the air you breathe and inside the walls in which you live. Fire residue could be present, so it is imperative that you get your area testing for both primary and secondary indicators to detect what kind of damage you could be exposing yourself to. 

At Certified IAQ Professional, our post-fire indoor air quality testing identifies signature chemicals that have an association with fire damage. we test for three essential criteria of universality, volatility, and detectability. Generally, these compounds are separated into 2 categories; Primary Indicators and Secondary Indicators. When performing our post-fire indoor air testing, at least one primary indicator must be detected. The presence of secondary indicators are then used to support the findings of the primary indicators.

Primary indicators are those that best meet all the essential criteria:

• Cresols (o, m, p)

• Creosol

• Guaicol

• 4-Ethylguaicol

• Acenaphthylene

Secondary indicators support fire identification in addition to other parameters such as material or projected dissipation. They include:

• Acrolein

• Acetonitrile

• Salicaldehyde

• 2-Furaldehyde

• 2,4-Dimethylphenol

• Biphenyl

• Naphthalene

• 2-Methylnaphthalene

Thousands of microparticles are created during and after a fire. For instance, modern furnishings, building materials, and insulation materials contain toxins that when burned, produce harmful gasses, smoke, and residue. These cancer-causing chemicals become airborne during a fire and bind to form smoke, soot, and ash properties. Therefore the soot, char, and ash that make up the particulate portion of these products are the most noticeable. They are responsible for the characteristics of fire and contain properties tested for post-fire, before and after remediation takes place. Some of these chemical compounds dissipate quickly and are not a long-term contamination concern; other chemicals can linger for weeks, months, or even years, causing health concerns and chronic health effects.

Fire and smoke air quality testing are essential in the aftermath of a fire event. If someone you know has been affected by fire, smoke, soot, or ash caused by fire, have them give us a call. Our expertise, experience, and equipment will provide you with the assurance that we can complete the job without putting you in harm’s way. If you want a reliable team to deal with post-fire indoor air testing, do give us a call today at 303-995-7015. We’ll provide you with our post-fire soot and smoke testing service so you can get the peace of mind and proper clean-up and inspection you deserve.