Following scenes of blood orange skies in early June caused by heavy smoke from Canadian Wildfires, New York City officials are reportedly set to propose regulations aimed to analyze and enforce indoor air quality.

According to a July 12 report from The Wall Street Journal, air quality concerns from wildfire smoke and its focus to combat the spread of COVID-19 have raised urgency to push forward legislation that has been in the works for almost a year.

The report said that two proposed bills would require NYC to create standards for measuring, monitoring, reporting and enforcing air quality inside schools and municipal buildings. If adopted, city officials would have 18 months to create these standards, which would be “more detailed” than current city building and health codes.

Another pair of bills would form five-year pilot programs that would analyze air quality in residential and commercial buildings — going into effect four months after their passage. These proposed programs would be voluntary for many residential and commercial buildings, but participation would be required for buildings that have owners or developers that receive city financial assistance.

The WSJ reported that if these pilot programs do launch, NYC officials would then make recommendations for a permanent regulatory framework for residential and commercial buildings.

MDM’s Quick Analysis

If such air quality regulations would go into effect in the United States’ biggest city, it would undoubtedly have a major impact on the demand market for HVAC products, particularly for the market for ventilation products and systems.

And if NYC were to pass such legislation, other major cities would surely follow. With numerous projections that the current Canadian Wildfire season — the nation’s worst such season on record — may become the norm in the years ahead, both in the U.S.’ northern neighbor and domestically. Whether the wildfire season becomes longer, more intense, or both, it could mean an influx in demand for the products and services needed to ensure air quality.