The paper presents a summary of the developments in fire safety regulations and procedures as they apply to air-conditioning systems in Australia. One of the major steps was the initiation in 1974 of the Australian Standard 1668, Part 1, "Fire Precautions in Buildings with Air Handling Systems". This Code addressed for the first time the active use of the air-handling plant as a method of smoke and fire control.

A retrospective view is then taken, from the year 2015, of the subsequent developments in this field after 1985. This futuristic approach highlights the role of early warning detection systems and the necessary changes needed in the regulatory approaches in order to accomplish a more rational approach to fire and smoke control.