Tariq Al Ghussein, CEO, Taqeef, highlights the solid position VRF has carved for itself in the industry. VRF, he says, is the natural evolution of the split unit. The introduction of inverter technology with variable-speed compressor, he says, has made existing systems more efficient. The multi-split feature of VRF technology, he adds, allows users to save in capacity and assign particular loads to indoor units, as required, making it more sophisticated with more controls and “proving it is a smarter and more effective split unit”.
“The technology of VRF,” he says, “competes with chillers, not against split units, because it is [essentially] a split unit, but there are certain applications where VRF is a much better solution.” Al Ghussein says that VRF systems are poised to have some of the market share of split units and some of the market share of chillers, though eventually its impact will most probably be most felt by the latter. “This is because it’s new,” he says. “It’s the fastest-growing sector in air conditioning at the moment, worldwide. When it gets saturated and people are using VRF where they’re best [used], then it will reach a more normal rate of growth.”