Choosing Filters for Nail Salons with Strong Product Odours

Nail salons can be challenging spaces for air filtration because odour control is often as important as dust capture. Acrylics, solvents, removers and other products can create noticeable smells, but a filter alone is not a complete solution if the tenancy ventilation is undersized or poorly balanced.

For salon owners, fit-out contractors and landlords, the key is to choose filtration based on what the system is trying to do: capture particles, manage visible dust, and support odour control where appropriate without overloading the fan or expecting the filter to do the job of ventilation.

What carbon filtration can help with

Activated carbon is commonly used where odours are a concern. In a nail services area, it can be useful in systems that need to reduce noticeable product smells moving through the tenancy or into shared spaces.

Carbon works by adsorbing certain gaseous compounds onto its surface. In practical terms, that means it can help with some of the odour associated with nail services, especially when the system is designed to move air through a sufficient carbon bed and maintain good airflow.

Carbon filtration is most useful when:

• •odour is being recirculated within a small tenancy
• •the HVAC system has limited fresh air and needs help managing nuisance smells
• •there is a local exhaust or recirculation arrangement that can accept a carbon stage
• •the goal is to improve perceived air quality in the space, not to remove all chemical vapours

It is important to understand that carbon filters do not remove everything in the air. They are not a fix for poor ventilation, and they do not replace the need to provide outdoor air and extract contaminated air where required.

What carbon filtration cannot do

Carbon is often misunderstood as a catch-all solution. In a nail salon, that can lead to disappointment if the system is being asked to do too much.

Carbon filtration cannot:

• •solve a ventilation design problem on its own
• •eliminate all odour from strong or continuous product use
• •capture fine dust and liquid droplets by itself without a particle filter upstream
• •perform well if the carbon stage is too small for the airflow or too heavily loaded
• •maintain performance indefinitely without inspection and replacement when required

If the tenancy has persistent odour complaints, the first question should not be “which carbon filter?” It should be “is the system moving enough air, and is the air actually being delivered and removed in the right places?”

Choosing the right filter stages for a small tenancy HVAC system

In many salon fit-outs, a layered approach works better than relying on a single filter type. A common arrangement is a particle filter followed by carbon where odour control is needed.

Particle filtration first

A pre-filter or general air filter helps capture dust, nail filings and other airborne particles before they reach the finer stages of the system.

This matters because carbon media is not designed to load up with dust. If the carbon stage gets coated with particles, airflow can drop and the odour-control performance can suffer.

Depending on the equipment and the system design, filter classes such as G3/G4 or F5-F9 may be used in Australian projects, noting that these are EN 779 classes and are still commonly referred to even though ISO 16890 has superseded that standard. Selection should be based on the unit, the airflow, and the mechanical services design rather than on a simple assumption that “higher is better.”

Carbon stage for odour

A carbon filter may be added where odour is a genuine concern. The right form depends on the equipment:

• •panel or cartridge carbon filters for compact units
• •bag or deeper media stages where the housing allows for more contact time
• •combination filters where particle and odour control are built into one solution

For a small tenancy HVAC system, space is often the limiting factor. A carbon filter needs enough contact time with the air to work properly, and that can be hard to achieve in a shallow or high-velocity unit.

Practical issues to check before specifying carbon

Before selecting a filter package for a nail salon, it helps to check the system details rather than guessing.

Airflow and pressure drop

Every filter adds resistance. Carbon media usually creates more resistance than a simple dust filter, so the fan must be able to handle the added pressure drop.

If the fan cannot maintain airflow, the system may underperform even if the filter itself is technically suitable. This is why the filter choice should be discussed with the mechanical services engineer or building owner, especially on a tenancy fit-out where the central system may already be committed to other loads.

Space in the filter housing

Many small tenancy systems have limited filter depth. That can affect both particle capture and odour control.

If the housing is too shallow, a large carbon bed may not be possible. In that case, the better option may be a different filter arrangement, local extraction at source, or a custom filter assembly that fits the actual plantroom or ceiling space.

Source control in the salon

Good filtration works best when paired with sensible source control:

• •keep lids on product containers where practical
• •avoid placing odour sources directly into return air paths
• •separate nail service areas from waiting areas where layout allows
• •use local exhaust where specified by the design team

If the salon layout sends strong odours straight into the return grille, even a good filter arrangement may struggle.

Maintenance and replacement planning

Filters in salons should be inspected based on the system, the site conditions and the dust load. A busy nail bar with regular product use may load filters differently to a quieter tenancy.

Where pressure gauges or differential pressure indicators are fitted, they are useful for deciding when filters are becoming blocked. Follow the filter manufacturer’s instructions and the equipment manual rather than relying on a fixed calendar.

A few practical points:

• •inspect filters more closely during fit-out, after sanding or renovation work, and during periods of heavy use
• •check whether the filter is disposable or whether some filters are designed to be washable - check the product instructions
• •do not reuse a filter beyond what the manufacturer recommends
• •keep records of filter sizes, housing type and access requirements so replacements are easier to source later

If the salon is in a multi-tenant building, access to the air handling unit may also need coordination with the landlord or body corporate. That is worth sorting out early, not after odour complaints start.

When a custom filter may be the better answer

Off-the-shelf filters do not always suit a small tenancy HVAC system, especially in older buildings or compact fit-outs with unusual frame sizes.

A custom filter may be worth considering when:

• •the filter frame size is non-standard
• •the system needs a specific combination of particle and carbon stages
• •access doors are tight and a standard filter will not fit correctly
• •the tenancy has a unique airflow path or shallow filter slot

In those cases, measuring carefully matters. If you are unsure how to measure the existing filter, use how to measure an air filter before ordering, or speak with a supplier who can make to size.

Working within the building ventilation design

For new fit-outs and upgrades, filter selection should sit alongside the broader ventilation design. AS 1668.2:2024 is relevant to ventilation in Australian buildings, but site requirements still need to be confirmed with the mechanical services engineer or building owner.

That is especially important in shared retail centres, mixed-use buildings and strata-managed properties, where changes to filters, airflow or exhaust arrangements can affect other parts of the system.

A practical approach is to align the filter plan with the plant that already exists, rather than expecting the filters to compensate for a system that was never intended for strong odours.

Need help choosing the right filter setup?

Total Air Filtration is a family-owned air filter manufacturer and supplier in Hillcrest, Brisbane QLD, established 2009. We can supply standard filters or make the right filters for a nail salon tenancy, including options for odour control and custom sizing.

If you are planning a salon fit-out or reviewing an existing HVAC system, call 07 3800 3448 or request a quote. You can also explore our products or custom air filters to see what may suit your system.