Daikin adds R290 commercial heat pump option
UK – Daikin is expanding its CZ commercial heat pump family with the addition of the new R290 (propane) based EWA(Y)K-CZ range.
Joining the existing CZ-HT high temperature heat pump, this latest addition means a wider choice of solutions for commercial and large-scale residential decarbonisation, including applications where an ultra-low GWP refrigerant is required.
With a GWP of just 0.2, the new EWA(Y)K-CZ range adds a natural refrigerant option to the family, using R290. Available in both heat pump and cooling-only configurations from 17-85kW, the range is said to be suitable for new installations and retrofit projects. The heat pump version delivers leaving water temperatures up to 75°C via vapour injection technology, while the cooling-only variant covers applications down to -15°C with glycol. Both versions operate across outdoor air temperatures from -20°C to +46°C.
The expanded CZ family now addresses a broader spectrum of commercial applications, including:
- Comfort heating and domestic hot water in offices, schools, hotels, hospitals and residential blocks
- Boiler replacement in both new build and retrofit projects, without requiring changes to existing heat emitters
- Cooling and process cooling applications requiring low chilled water temperatures
- Applications where ultra-low GWP refrigerants are required for regulatory compliance, sustainability targets, or F-Gas readiness
- Noise-sensitive environments, with reduced noise mode available across the CZ-HT range
The use of propane as a refrigerant demands the highest standards of safety engineering. The EWA(Y)K-CZ range incorporates Daikin’s Daikin Safety Shield across the full capacity range. This system-wide safety package includes an independent 230V power supply for all safety devices, a pressurised electrical switchbox with ATEX-certified ventilation and refrigerant leak detection, factory-pre-charged refrigerant storage tanks for safe transport and handling, and automatic shut-off valves to isolate the water circuit if a leak is detected.
Both the CZ-HT and EWA(Y)K-CZ ranges also feature Daikin-designed inverter scroll compressors and inverter-driven fans, developed in-house for optimal efficiency and reliability. Across the CZ family, full inverter design enables units to closely follow the building load profile, ensuring high seasonal efficiency and lower operating costs. The systems can deliver SCOP (Seasonal Coefficient of Performance) values of SCOP MT (55°C): 3.45 to 3.56, and SCOP HT (65°C): 3.00 to 3.14, as defined by EN14825.
Cliff Jones, Daikin UK’s Head of Applied, said: “The expansion of the CZ is an important step forward in our commercial heat pump portfolio. The CZ-HT has already demonstrated its ability to decarbonise a wide range of commercial buildings, delivering reliable high-temperature heating as a direct boiler replacement. By now adding an R290 option to the family, we can offer customers a genuinely broader choice, that covers more applications and allows specifiers to match the right product to the right project, including those with the most exacting environmental requirements.”
