Long-Term HVAC Performance and Revised EPBD: the value of Daikin Smart Control System

Brussels, 28 November 2025 – As the revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD IV) enters its implementation phase, the HVAC industry faces a decisive shift in how system efficiency, monitoring, and automation are defined and maintained. In this evolving context, Daikin presented its Smart Control System (SCS) at the European Heat Pump Summit in Nuremberg on 29 October 2025. SCS is a key enabler for building owners and facility managers seeking to comply with the new regulatory requirements while achieving verifiable, sustained energy efficiency.

The new framework of EPBD IV

The revised Energy Performance of Buildings Directive (EPBD IV) entered into force on 28 May 2024. EU Member States are required to transpose the directive into their national legislation by 29 May 2026.

EPBD IV aims to accelerate the decarbonisation of the European building stock, introducing mandatory measures for the digitalisation and active management of technical building systems (TBS). The Directive establishes clear criteria for the implementation of Building Automation and Control Systems (BACS), particularly in non-residential buildings.

BACS become compulsory for:

• Non-residential buildings with HVAC systems exceeding 290 kW
• Non-residential buildings with HVAC systems exceeding 70 kW by 31 December 2029

The Directive reinforces the need for data-driven building management, requiring that energy consumption and system performance be tracked, stored, and periodically assessed. For designers and operators, this will mark an important shift from static compliance to dynamic verification, making actual building performance the standard for efficiency.

Smart control as a strategic response

Daikin’s Smart Control System (SCS) directly addresses these new expectations by providing a turnkey, fully integrated solution designed to monitor and optimise the performance of entire HVAC plants.

Unlike conventional building management systems that require extensive configuration and third-party integration, SCS is specifically engineered around Daikin equipment and logic, ensuring plug-and-play interoperability across chillers, heat pumps, air handling units, fan coils and auxiliary components. The system’s native connectivity and standardised structure enable a consistent and scalable approach to automation, one that fits both new-build applications and revamping projects.

Through a simplified commissioning process, SCS delivers:

• Centralised control of plant equipment with unified communication protocols
• Real-time data acquisition and visualisation through an intuitive interface
• Automated alerts and trend analysis for predictive maintenance and fault detection
• Energy performance tracking to demonstrate ongoing compliance with EPBD-driven requirements.

A key strength of the Daikin Smart Control System lies in its ease of adoption. The system is delivered as a ready-to-use package, configured and validated by Daikin engineers. By providing standardised data structures, pre-tested communication modules, and integrated dashboards, SCS drastically reduces both installation time and commissioning uncertainty. It also ensures that energy reporting and performance documentation align with the monitoring and verification obligations of EPBD IV.

For engineering consultancies and facility managers, this means a measurable and verifiable method to document energy performance over time — a crucial factor as Member States translate EPBD IV into national regulations.

Moreover, the SCS platform supports seamless integration with Eurovent-certified Daikin equipment, adding an additional layer of reliability. While certification continues to serve as an important baseline for component performance, SCS ensures that such performance is sustained in real operating conditions — closing the loop between design, verification, and operation.

Smart Control System configurations and product coverage

Smart Control System is offered in three main configurations, allowing for scalability in hardware, license and price. Each version can manage up to 4 chillers or heat pumps with a total cooling capacity of up to 500 kW and additional equipment as follows:

1. Light (up 500 datapoints): up to 20 fan coil’s zones or 10 Air Handling Units (AHUs)
2. Medium (up 1250 datapoints): up to 70 fan coil’s zones, or 10 AHUs + 50 fan coils’ zones 
3. Full (up 2500 datapoints): up to 120 fan coil’s zones, or 10 AHUs + 100 fan coils’ zones

A fan coil zone can consist of up to 30 fan coils, managed via a dedicated controller, also developed and supplied by Daikin.

SCS is available to manage plants composed of the equipment as follows, offering flexibility to cover many different applications and installations.

• Chillers & heat pumps: EWAT-CZ air-cooled chillers and EWYT-CZ air-to-water heat pumps, with Daikin inverter scroll compressor and using R-32 refrigerant, available from 16 to 90 kW;
• Air handling units for decentralised ventilation systems: Compact T available in 5 sizes and covering from 200 to 4200 m3/h air flow rate; Compact L, ideal for floor ceiling applications, available in 6 sizes from 150 to 4000 m3/h air flow rate;
• Fan coil units of Cassette, Ducted, Floor-standing and Flexi types

If you would like to view our presentation from the event, please click here.