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Smoke Mitigation Technical Library
Technical guidance on smoke particle testing, VOC sampling, industrial hygienist protocols, chain of custody, restoration standards, and post-remediation verification.
Particulate analysis finds the solids; VOC analysis finds the chemistry. Thorough investigations use both.
Labs compare fire-particle concentrations from your property against historical background data from buildings with no fire impact. Results land in one of four ranges — and the range drives everything: whether a hygienist writes a protocol, what remediation is justified, and how the insurance claim is scoped.
An elevated result — more than 10× background — is strong physical evidence of smoke impact, regardless of whether the property ever showed a flame.
Consensus documents developed through the IICRC's ANSI-accredited process define what competent smoke investigation and restoration looks like.
Covers structure fires and smoke events: the Fire & Smoke Damage assessment, the Restoration Work Plan it yields, residue removal, odor management, and post-work verification.
Specific to wildfire smoke impacts: particle infiltration and settlement principles, impact levels from background to heavy, cleaning technique scales, and cleanliness verification of structures and contents.
Smoke-ready design and operation for commercial, institutional, healthcare, and multi-residential buildings: filtration, fresh-air intake management, and building-pressure strategies.
AIHA guidance holds that fire-impact investigators should have scientific training, CIH credentials where appropriate, and fire/smoke experience. FEMA's Marshall Fire homeowner guide emphasizes assessment before remediation is attempted.
Certified providers perform standards-aligned testing at no upfront cost, with hygienist protocols and insurance claim coordination included.