Services
VRF and HVRF systems for hotels and offices
With a VRF or HVRF system, you heat and cool many rooms at the same time, each at the desired temperature. We advise which system is best suited and provide engineering, installation, and maintenance.
What is a VRF system?
VRF stands for Variable Refrigerant Flow. One or more outdoor units are connected to indoor units in the rooms via refrigerant lines. The system continuously adjusts the amount of refrigerant per indoor unit, so that each room receives its own temperature.
With heat recovery, the system can simultaneously heat and cool. Heat that one space wants to lose goes to a space that needs heat. That’s exactly what happens in hotels and offices: the sunny side cools while the north side heats.
What is HVRF?
HVRF (Hybrid VRF) works with the same outdoor units, but the refrigerant only goes to a central distributor. From that distributor, water goes to the indoor units. In rooms and office spaces, therefore, there is no more refrigerant, only water.
This limits the amount of refrigerant in the building. For hotels, this is an important advantage: the NEN-EN 378 standard sets limits on how much refrigerant can be contained in a space, and in small hotel rooms that limit is quickly reached.
VRF or HVRF: the differences
| VRF | HVRF | |
|---|---|---|
| Energy carrier in space | Coolant | Water |
| Coolant in the building | In all pipes leading to the indoor units | Only to the central distributor |
| Simultaneous heating and cooling | Yes, with heat recovery mode | Yes |
| Regulation per room | Yes | Yes |
| Suitable for | Offices, shops, business premises | Hotels, healthcare, buildings with small living spaces |
Which variant is suitable depends on the building, the spaces and the existing installation. We will determine this together with you during the consultation.
Replacing an old VRF installation
Even a VRF installation doesn't last forever. If replacement is planned, then this is the perfect time to take another look: replacing it one by one, switching to HVRF, or choosing a system that can later connect to a WKO source.
At hotel The Dylan on Keizersgracht, we replaced the outdated VRF system with a HVRF heat pump system. The system also provides approximately 4,000 liters of hot tap water and is prepared for a future WKO connection.
This is how we approach it
Recording and advice
We look at the spaces, the existing installation, and the location for outdoor units, including requirements from the municipality or heritage preservation authorities.
Engineering
Capacity calculation, wiring diagrams, choice of indoor units and the layout per room.
Installation
Gradually, so that rooms or floors are out of use for as short a time as possible.
Commissioning and maintenance
Adjustment, transfer to the users and periodic maintenance.
Frequently asked questions
Can a VRF system also heat?
Yes. A VRF system is a heat pump and can both heat and cool. An implementation with heat recovery can even do both at the same time, in different rooms.
When should you choose HVRF instead of VRF?
Especially if there are many small spaces where people live, such as hotel rooms. Because there is only water in those spaces, you can more easily stay within the limits for refrigerant per space.
Can the hotel remain open during the replacement?
That is usually the starting point. We work in stages per floor or per group of rooms, in consultation with the management. That is how we did it at The Dylan and The Albus as well.
Can existing pipes be reused?
Sometimes. It depends on the state and diameter of the pipes and on the new system. We assess this during the installation.
VRF or HVRF for your building?
We assess your situation on site and recommend which system is best suited, even if you want to replace an existing installation.