Building Preparedness for Climate-Induced Air-Quality Hazards

August 27, 2026

External air quality degradation has emerged as a major operational concern for Australian buildings, and the issue is expected to intensify as the climate continues to change. In particular, smoke infiltration from bushfires, increased pollen concentration and extreme wind events poses a complex challenge for maintaining safe indoor environments. This Advisory Note explains the problem and sets out key practical building management strategies

In commercial and institutional buildings bushfire infiltration affects indoor air quality and occupant health, can affect soft furnishings and is known to set off fire detection systems forcing building evacuations.

In data centres, particulates, ash and soot can lead to short circuits on circuit boards, contaminate optical drives and laser-based sensors (including LiDAR), and cause corrosion that damages critical components such as CPUs and GPUs.

In healthcare facilities, smoke-induced recirculation within HVAC systems can undermine infection control requirements. Reduced air change rates and accelerated filter clogging increase pathogen concentrations, creating risks for both patients and staff.

Climate Change is Increasing Air Quality Risks

Projections show that the risk of significant bushfire events will continue to rise nationwide under all climate change scenarios.

Prolonged drought, extreme heat, increased fuel loads from dried vegetation, dry lightning and adverse wind conditions are contributing to more frequent and severe bushfire events. These high-intensity fires generate toxic smoke that poses substantial risks to both building occupants and building assets.

Preparing Buildings for a Changing Risk Environment

Increasingly, buildings are expected to protect their occupants from exposure to poor air quality. As a result, building facility management teams play a critical role in identifying, reducing and managing bushfire smoke-related risks.

During the January 2026 Victorian bushfires and the 2020 summer bushfires in the Canberra region, concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10 particulates exceeded the recommended daily limits of 15 µg/m³ and 50 µg/m³ respectively on multiple occasions. Although these particles are not visible to the naked eye, inhalation can lead to significant health impacts, including reduced lung function, elevated heart rate, cardiovascular stress, eye irritation and in severe cases, life-threatening conditions.

In addition to bushfire smoke infiltration, another emerging consequence of a warming climate often overlooked but also important, are the rise in pollen levels and increase in extreme wind events. Australia is experiencing earlier onsets, longer durations and higher concentrations of grass pollen, driven by rising temperatures, shifting rainfall patterns and more frequent extreme weather events.

An increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme wind events will increase the infiltration of outdoor particulate matter into buildings, including bushfire smoke, pollen and dust from dry soils, potentially affecting indoor air quality and occupant health.

The associated health risks are substantial, with increased incidents of hay fever, asthma attacks, sinus infections and in severe cases, acute allergic reactions. As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, pollen counts in both Sydney and Canberra have shown a clear upward trend over the past decade, reinforcing the need for proactive building management air quality strategies.

Key Building Management Strategies for Effective External Air Quality Management

Installation of an on-site air quality monitoring station capable of measuring PM2.5, PM10, soot, ash, condensed tar and toxic gases such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides and formaldehyde.
Integrating pollen data APIs like Ambee Pollen API or Google Pollen API into Building Management and Control Systems to receive pollen datasets and These data feeds can be integrated into HVAC control system inputs to manage the outside air intake volume.

Active collaboration with local councils and fire authorities to receive advance notifications of hazard reduction burns and other events likely to degrade air quality.
Development of a Building Bushfire Smoke Readiness Plan, outlining procedures, responsibilities, and mitigation strategies for periods of elevated smoke and particulate pollution.

Integration of a dedicated Bushfire Mode within the Building Management and Control System (BMCS), enabling facility management teams to proactively close outside air dampers and operate air handling units in full recirculation mode during smoke events.
Enhanced filter monitoring and filter replacement decisions using pollen API and other air quality data feeds for forecasting.
Enhanced maintenance and operational procedures, including the deployment of high-grade filtration systems and comprehensive cleaning of airways and HVAC assets.
Odour management strategies through the installation of
activated carbon filtration to reduce smoke-related smells and airborne contaminants.
Evaluation of building envelope performance to determine its effectiveness in minimising smoke infiltration and identifying areas requiring improvement.
Corrosion assessment and remediation, addressing chemical deposits and residues resulting from bushfire smoke exposure.

For more information on specific options to enhance the operation or features of building services systems also see A.G. Coombs Advisory Note ‘Managing Building Services Systems and Bushfire Smoke’.

Why is developing a building specific Bushfire Smoke Readiness Plan Important?

Because bushfire smoke has become a common phenomenon in much of Australia, it is recommended that facility managers consider as a first step implementing a Bushfire Smoke Readiness Plan (SRP) for their particular buildings.

ASHRAE Guideline 44-2024 and the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Smoke-Ready Toolbox provide excellent guidance for developing a robust SRP. A three-step process for an effective bushfire smoke resilience strategy is shown in Figure 3, based on these references.