US Embassy fights Delhi toxic air with this mighty purifier - and it’s not Dyson or Philips

US Embassy

As Delhi-NCR struggles under severe air pollution, the United States Embassy has revealed how it is tackling the toxic winter smog within its premises. Unlike popular consumer air purifiers from brands like Dyson or Philips, the embassy relies on large, high-capacity Blueair units and has now issued a major tender to restock filters needed to keep them running 24/7.

The embassy has called for procurement of 1,200 boxes of True HEPA Particle Filters compatible with Blueair’s 500 and 600 Series machines. These older but high-powered units are widely used in offices and government buildings that require heavy-duty air purification. The tender specifically mentions the Blueair 503, one of the most commonly deployed models in the embassy’s network.

Delhi’s air quality has consistently remained in the hazardous zone throughout November 2025, prompting institutions to step up indoor air safety measures. Each Blueair 500 or 600 Series purifier uses a set of three filters per change, suggesting that several hundred machines are functioning across embassy offices, residential compounds, staff areas, and consular buildings.

Issued on November 18, 2025, the solicitation seeks competitive bids for delivery of the filters by 30 November 2025. It specifies “True HEPA Particle Filter (Set of 3) 500 and 600 Series for Blueair Purifier Model 503 BLF-500PA,” designed to trap fine particulate matter, the main component of Delhi’s winter smog.

The embassy has been an early adopter of air purifiers in the capital. Its scale of deployment first became widely known in 2015, when over 1,800 units were procured ahead of former US President Barack Obama’s Republic Day visit.

With AQI frequently breaching 400 this season, HEPA filters clog quickly, forcing more frequent replacements.