VRF and VRV systems in Cambridge
VRF and VRV air conditioning in Cambridge, sized to the real heat load of your premises rather than guessed from the floor area.
- Free site survey and fixed written quote
- Unit sizes, refrigerant and price set out in writing
- Work planned around your opening hours
How much does a VRF system cost in Cambridge?
Budget roughly £2,650–£5,350 per indoor unit (whole system) ex VAT in Cambridge. For a typical job — office floor of 10–16 indoor units — expect £26,500–£85,995 plus VAT. The fixed price follows a free survey.
VRF (variable refrigerant flow) — called VRV by some manufacturers — is a commercial air conditioning system where one outdoor unit, or a bank of them, serves many indoor units through a shared refrigerant network.
Covering Cambridge and nearby
Cambridge supports a mix of high-street retail, professional offices, hospitality and light industry.
That includes premises in CB5, CB21, CB22, CB23, CB24 and GL2 and the surrounding districts. We also work in nearby Newmarket, Ely and Huntingdon. In Cambridge we work with offices, shops and hospitality premises, from a single room to a whole floor; each job starts with a heat load check rather than a guess from the floor area.
What is included
- Heat load and diversity calculations for every zone
- Two-pipe (heat pump) or three-pipe / two-pipe heat recovery system design
- Refrigerant pipework sizing, branch selectors and refrigerant charge calculation
- Leak detection where the refrigerant concentration limits require it
- Central controls, scheduling and BMS integration
Local guide prices for Cambridge
Prices below include our regional adjustment for the East of England (8% above the UK guide).
| Item | Guide price (ex VAT) | Inc VAT | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|
| Heat pump VRF, per indoor unit | £2,650–£4,795 | £3,180–£5,754 | per unit |
| Heat recovery VRF, per indoor unit | £3,195–£5,350 | £3,834–£6,420 | per unit |
| Central controller and BMS interface | £995–£4,250 | £1,194–£5,100 | per system |
| Refrigerant leak detection (per alarmed room) | £425–£965 | £510–£1,158 | per room |
| Crane lift for roof plant | £995–£3,195 | £1,194–£3,834 | per lift |
Ex VAT, installed system prices including outdoor plant shared across indoor units.
How a job in Cambridge works
Survey and loads
We calculate loads zone by zone and check roof or plant space, risers and ceiling voids.
System design
Outdoor units, indoor units, branch boxes and pipe sizes are designed together, including the refrigerant charge and any leak detection.
Phased first fix
Pipework and controls cabling go in floor by floor, often out of hours in occupied buildings. In Cambridge we agree timings around your opening hours.
Pressure test and charge
The network is pressure tested, evacuated and charged with the calculated refrigerant quantity.
Commissioning
Each indoor unit is commissioned and the controls set up, with as-fitted drawings and F-gas records handed over.
Before you book in Cambridge
Refrigerant in occupied rooms
Because one network carries a large refrigerant charge, small rooms on the system are checked against the safety limits in BS EN 378 and may need leak detection.
Shared buildings
In multi-let buildings, roof space, risers and plant areas are often controlled by a managing agent. We work to their permits and method-statement requirements.
Leak checks
Larger VRF systems usually exceed 5 tonnes CO2 equivalent, so they need at least annual F-gas leak checks — more often at 50 tonnes and above.
Leased premises
If your Cambridge premises are leased, the landlord's written consent is usually needed for external units, wall penetrations and roof access. We provide drawings and data sheets for the request.
Typical premises in Cambridge
- Hotels and hospitality: quiet bedroom units, public-area cooling and heat recovery for hotels.
- Offices: zoned cooling and heating for open-plan floors, meeting rooms and comms rooms.
Compliance in England: refrigerant work falls under GB F-gas rules, and buildings with more than 12 kW of air conditioning in total need a periodic energy inspection (often called TM44).
Your questions answered
How much does a VRF system cost in Cambridge?
Guide prices in Cambridge run from about £2,650 to £5,350 per indoor unit (whole system), plus VAT. A typical job (office floor of 10–16 indoor units) costs £26,500–£85,995 plus VAT. We fix the price in writing after a free survey.
Do you also cover Newmarket, Ely and Huntingdon?
Yes. Alongside Cambridge, we also cover Newmarket, Ely and Huntingdon. Each has its own page with local guide prices.
Which postcodes do you cover in Cambridge?
All of them, including CB5, CB21, CB22 and CB23. Give us your postcode when you enquire and we will confirm the visit details.
How long does a VRF system last?
With regular servicing, commercial VRF equipment commonly runs for 15 years or more. Lifespan depends on use, maintenance and the operating environment.
Does a VRF system need F-gas leak checks?
Usually yes. Most VRF systems hold enough refrigerant to exceed 5 tonnes CO2 equivalent, which triggers at least annual leak checks and record keeping.
Get a guide price for Cambridge
Free survey and fixed written quote. We reply with a guide price or to book the survey.