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Rethinking hotel HVAC without leak detection

For hotels, HVAC refurbishments are becoming increasingly complex.

Alongside improving energy efficiency and guest comfort, projects must also meet evolving compliance requirements while protecting the look and feel of guest spaces.

One challenge many hotel operators, consultants and contractors now face is refrigerant leak detection within hotel room fit outs.

Traditional leak detection systems can add cost, installation complexity and visible hardware within guest rooms. On refurbishment projects, this can create additional coordination challenges and disrupt carefully planned fit out programmes.

As a result, many in the hospitality sector are taking a closer look at HVAC design from the outset, particularly where compliance, aesthetics and operational practicality all need to work together.

How can engineered HVAC help hotels?

Engineered HVAC approaches are now emerging that can help reduce or remove the need for separate refrigerant leak detection systems within hotel room fit outs when designed appropriately.

One example is the Daikin VRV 5 Heat Recovery system. Using integrated Shirudo Technology, it continuously monitors refrigerant concentration levels and can automatically isolate the system if required. This can help simplify hotel room installations while reducing the need for additional hardware within occupied spaces.

For hotel operators and consultants, the benefits go beyond compliance. Reducing visible components within guest rooms can help maintain cleaner aesthetics while simplifying installation and minimising disruption during refurbishment works. It also supports a more integrated approach to HVAC design, where compliance is considered as part of the wider building strategy rather than an additional requirement later in the project.

At the same time, hotels are facing wider pressures around ageing infrastructure, energy performance, operational costs and long-term investment planning. Building owners are increasingly looking for HVAC strategies that support carbon reduction goals while remaining practical to deliver across live hospitality environments.

Daikin Hotel Summit 2026

These are some of the key themes behind the Daikin Hotel Summit, taking place at Tate Modern in London on 4 June 2026. The event will bring together hospitality professionals, consultants and industry experts to explore the future of hotel building performance and discuss practical approaches to HVAC modernisation.

Sessions throughout the day will focus on managing ageing HVAC assets, improving efficiency and enhancing guest comfort, while avoiding stranded investment. Discussions will also explore how SMART controls and connected systems can help hotels optimise energy use and support operational performance. Attendees will hear more about service-led approaches to reducing Scope 3 impact, alongside practical solutions for efficient hot water generation and balancing sustainability targets with operational and capital expenditure pressures.

As hospitality projects evolve, hotels are looking for HVAC solutions that simplify compliance, reduce installation complexity and support long-term performance. Practicality, efficiency and guest experience are all becoming central to modern refurbishment and upgrade strategies.

To register your interest in attending the Daikin Hotel Summit, visit: Daikin Hotel Summit registration