City Multi Hybrid VRF – Celebrating 10 Years of Award-winning Innovation

A decade ago, Mitsubishi Electric revolutionised commercial heating and cooling with the launch of the world’s first Hybrid VRF system. What was so revolutionary? Using water instead of refrigerant in indoor spaces put safety at the forefront of development and removed the need for leak detection in occupied spaces.

City Multi HVRF is a uniquely designed 2-pipe heat recovery VRF solution. The outdoor unit connects to a Hybrid Branch Controller (HBC), with water pipework linking the HBC to the indoor units. This setup allows simultaneous heating and cooling, without any refrigerant in occupied areas. It can be installed and designed like a traditional VRF system, while offering the advantages of a chiller.

The use of lower GWP R32 refrigerant between the outdoor unit and HBC was then introduced in 2018. From the HBC to the indoor units, only plastic water piping is required and the need for leak detection in occupied spaces is eliminated, thus ensuring straightforward compliance with BS EN 378. By combining R32 with hybrid technology, the system achieves a CO2 equivalent reduction of over 80% and uses up to 40% less refrigerant when compared to R410A VRF systems.

What Makes City Multi HVRF Award-winning?

Benefits

Why Choose Hybrid VRF?

Mitsubishi Electric provides CIBSE TM65 data for many of their products. They’re also working on producing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) for their products, so that specifiers can find an even greater level of information on embodied carbon.

The reduction of embodied carbon across this product range is a key focus, with much of the technology now utilising low and lower GWP refrigerants. The after sales support also considers carbon emissions.

For example, Mitsubishi Electric’s Service & Maintenance engineers can support end users post installation by helping make a lifetime plan for essential equipment. The right maintenance schedule can help optimise energy use (reducing operational carbon) and extend product life.

HVRF Applications

Infographic

The applications infographic captures the range of applications where the City Multi Hybrid VRF is particularly well suited. It highlights key features and benefits of the world’s first R32 Hybrid VRF solution and, with a summary of indoor units available, it is ideal for discussing alternatives with your clients.

Introducing the New City Multi R32 YXM VRF

Mitsubishi Electric never stand still in their mission to reduce carbon emissions and improve efficiency, while improving on performance.

The latest addition to the range, City Multi R32 YXM VRF, that is available to specify now and to install from Spring 2026, is no exception.

Its Vertical Flat Tube (VFT) Heat Exchanger improves efficiency through better heat transfer, while new defrost technology maximises heating performance in cold weather.

With design, installation and maintenance key, this is Mitsubishi Electric’s most versatile VRF system yet.

 

 

 

CIBSE Webinar on City Multi R32 YXM VRF

If you missed the CIBSE Journal webinar in April: Redefining VRF Air Conditioning Systems: Meeting carbon targets and enhancing building performance you can still view it. The session offers valuable insights into the specification of R32 VRF solutions and the latest innovations from Mitsubishi Electric.

CIBSE Conference – UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard in Practice

Mitsubishi Electric is proud to be headline sponsor of the CIBSE conference on the UK Net Zero Carbon Buildings Standard (UKNZCBS) taking place on 6th November.

Don’t miss out on the opportunity to hear first-hand about the insights from the pilot programme and the next steps to be taken across a range of building applications. Highlights will also include keynote speeches from UKNZCBS leadership and guidance on technical requirements, reporting and verification.
Offering the opportunity to network with policy makers and project teams who have applied the standard in practice, this is an invaluable opportunity to understand the practical application of the standard and to be at the forefront of the industry’s transition to net zero.