Gas-Phase Filtration for Tertiary Buildings Near Food Tenancies

Mixed-use buildings can create a difficult air quality challenge when food tenancies sit beside lobbies, corridors and office areas. Odours from cooking, frying and cleaning can migrate through shared ventilation paths, making it harder to keep amenity consistent across the building.

For strata managers, property managers and mechanical contractors, the solution is usually not a single product, but a system approach that combines good airflow design, pressure control and the right gas-phase filtration where it is needed most.

Why food odours move through mixed-use buildings

Food odours are made up of gaseous compounds, not just visible smoke or dust. That means standard particle filters alone will not reliably capture them. If the building has shared return air paths, transfer air paths, leaky ducts, or poorly balanced exhaust and supply arrangements, those odours can drift from the tenancy into common areas.

This is especially relevant in tertiary buildings with:

• •Ground-floor cafés, takeaways or food courts beneath offices
• •Shared lobbies that sit close to kitchen exhaust discharge points
• •Car parks, service corridors or risers that connect multiple tenancies
• •Older plant rooms where ventilation has been modified over time

The complaint is often described as “the smell gets everywhere”, but the underlying issue is usually airflow movement and where the building is allowing contaminated air to travel.

What gas-phase filtration does differently

Gas-phase filtration is designed to target odour-causing gases and vapours. In many commercial systems, this means using media such as activated carbon or blended adsorbent materials in a filter arrangement suited to the air-handling unit.

Unlike particulate filters, gas-phase filters work by adsorbing certain airborne compounds onto the media surface. That makes them useful where the concern is cooking odour, grease-related smell, or other nuisance gases entering shared spaces.

Practical applications may include:

• •Air handling units serving lobbies or office floors
• •Dedicated make-up air systems near food tenancies
• •Recirculating systems where odour migration is affecting amenity
• •Retrofit projects where duct layout limits other options

The right media type and filter configuration depend on the odour profile, airflow rate, available space and pressure constraints in the system.

Particle filtration still matters

Even where odour is the main complaint, particle filtration often remains important. Kitchen exhaust influence, fine aerosols and dust can contribute to the overall air quality issue. In some systems, a staged arrangement is used so the particle filter protects the gas-phase stage from heavy loading.

If you are reviewing an existing installation, our products page is a useful starting point for understanding the range of filter types available.

Design considerations for buildings near food tenancies

A successful solution starts with understanding where the odour is entering and how air is moving through the building. In practice, that usually means a site review rather than a simple filter swap.

Check the air paths first

Before specifying gas-phase filtration, it helps to confirm:

• •Where kitchen exhaust is discharged
• •Whether there are shared risers or ceiling voids linking tenancies
• •Whether lobby doors, transfer grilles or shaft leakage are allowing odour migration
• •Whether the supply and exhaust balance in nearby areas is still correct

In some cases, improving separation and balancing airflow can reduce the problem before any filter change is made.

Match the filter to the system

Gas-phase filters need to suit the physical and operational limits of the air-handling unit. Important factors include face velocity, residence time, pressure drop and available access for maintenance.

Mechanical contractors should also confirm the installation against AS 1668.2:2024 and with the mechanical services engineer or building owner, especially where the tenancy layout or exhaust arrangement has changed over time.

If you are measuring or replacing an existing filter frame, our guide on how to measure an air filter can help avoid sizing errors that cause bypass or installation problems.

Maintenance, inspection and replacement planning

Gas-phase filters are not a set-and-forget item. Their performance depends on usage patterns, odour loading and the operating environment. Inspection frequency depends on the system, site conditions and dust load, and you should follow the filter and equipment manufacturer instructions.

Where gauges are fitted, monitor pressure drop so you can track when a filter is loading or when airflow resistance is increasing. That is particularly important in systems that already run close to their design limits.

A sensible maintenance plan should include:

• •Visual checks for damaged media, frame leakage or poor sealing
• •Verification that the filter is seated correctly and bypass is minimised
• •Pressure drop checks where differential pressure gauges are installed
• •Review of odour complaints alongside maintenance records

Some filters are designed to be washable - check the product instructions. For gas-phase media, washing is not always suitable, so always confirm the product-specific guidance before cleaning or reusing a filter.

If your site also needs routine servicing support, see filter servicing or commercial filter servicing.

Retrofit challenges in occupied buildings

Occupied tertiary buildings rarely have the luxury of a full shutdown. That means the filtration solution often has to fit around tenant access, ongoing operations and limited plant room space.

Common retrofit issues include:

• •Existing filter housings that are not deep enough for the desired media depth
• •Limited access doors that make changeouts awkward
• •Airflow constraints after tenancy fitout changes
• •Odour complaints that occur only during peak cooking periods

In these situations, custom filter sizing or a purpose-built replacement frame can make a significant difference. If standard sizes are not suitable, custom air filters may be the right path.

It is also worth documenting any changes carefully so future maintenance teams understand what has been installed and why. Clear records help avoid accidental substitutions that may not suit the system.

A practical approach for strata and property teams

Managing odours in a mixed-use building is usually about combining the right technical response with good communication between stakeholders. The strata manager may be hearing complaints from tenants, the property manager may be trying to keep the building presentable, and the contractor may be dealing with an older system that has drifted from its original configuration.

A practical action plan often includes:

• •Identifying when and where the odours are most noticeable
• •Checking the air balance and pathways between the food tenancy and shared areas
• •Reviewing whether particle and gas-phase filtration are both required
• •Selecting replacement filters that fit the housing properly and allow correct sealing
• •Monitoring performance after changes are made

For sites with recurring odour issues, it may also help to review whether the building has enough access for regular maintenance and whether the current filter arrangement is still suitable for the tenancy mix.

Talk to Total Air Filtration

Total Air Filtration is a family-owned air filter manufacturer and supplier based in Hillcrest, Brisbane QLD. We can help supply the right filters for mixed-use buildings, or make custom solutions when standard sizes and formats are not enough.

If you are managing odour transfer near food tenancies and need support with selection or replacement, call 07 3800 3448 or request a quote.

You can also contact us if you would like help matching a filter solution to your building or plant requirements.