Daikin Australia has launched VRV 7, the seventh generation of its VRV commercial air conditioning system and the company’s first VRV platform to run on R32 refrigerant.
The VRV 7 range is available in two outdoor unit types to support a wide range of project requirements.
VRV 7 S features a compact side-discharge design, with capacities from 11.2 kW to 24 kW, making it ideal for tighter installation spaces.
VRV 7 R features a top-discharge modular design, with capacities from 16 kW to 67 kW and the flexibility to combine modules for larger buildings up to 167kW.
VRV 7 R can also be configured for either Heat Pump or Heat Recovery operation, providing further flexibility across different building applications.
R32 VRV systems fall under the flammable refrigerant safety provisions of AS/NZS 60335.2.40, alongside the installation requirements of the AS/NZS 5149 series.
The standard limits how much refrigerant can serve an occupied space, calculated from room area, indoor unit installation height, refrigerant type and system configuration. Larger rooms allow higher charges, smaller rooms less.
Where charge limits cannot be met, the standard permits installation with additional safety measures, including refrigerant leak detection, alarms, shut-off valves and ventilation. Designers can select whichever combination meets the requirement.
Daikin has embedded Shirudo Technology, its exclusive R32 safety technology for VRV systems, into the platform, bringing four of those measures into one integrated solution powered and managed within the VRV system rather than sourced and coordinated separately.
Daikin Australia’s national consulting sales manager, Sunny Wong, said R32 introduces a new set of safety requirements around refrigerant leak mitigation, and managing those across design and installation can be simplified with Daikin’s Shirudo Technology.
When safety measures are required, an R32 Leak Detection Sensor is installed inside the indoor unit, detecting leaks at the source.
Upon detection, the Daikin Stylish Wall Controller then triggers a built-in 65 dBA audio and visual alarm.
Concurrently, the compact Safety Shut-Off Valves isolates the refrigerant flow to the affected circuit. An optional ventilation and alarm interlock adaptor can also be deployed to activate a Daikin Heat Reclaim Ventilator (VAM) or compatible third-party equipment to safely dilute refrigerant concentration in the space.
Daikin’s new selection software, DK-BIM, covers VRV alongside the company’s other unitary products. It assesses installation scenarios, factoring in room location and area, the height of the installed indoor unit and total refrigerant charge, then indicates when refrigerant safety devices are required.
“DK-BIM takes the complexity out of compliant design. No guesswork, no ambiguity,” Wong said.
In performance terms, R32 carries a higher refrigeration capacity per unit volume than R410A, allowing for improved seasonal efficiency with select models having a reduced piping size.
Compared with Daikin’s R410A models, VRV 7 delivers up to 35% improvement in cooling seasonal efficiency and 42% in heating seasonal efficiency, compared to previous models in the average zone classification.
Daikin Australia’s national commercial sales manager, Scott Walker, said the range was built around things that matter most to the commercial market right now, which is lower environmental impact, higher seasonal efficiency, and safety compliance that’s straightforward to manage.
"It’s a meaningful difference for building owners watching their energy costs,” he added.
VRV 7 is backed by Daikin’s warranty support, covering parts and labour with the backing of Daikin’s service network. VRV 7 S carries a five-year warranty while VRV 7 R has a three-year warranty.
VRV 7 will be available nationwide from 2 November 2026.