HVAC plant management control platform
30th October 2026
ITALY: Daikin announces the launch of iCM Pro, the latest evolution of its intelligent chiller manager platform that expands the possibilities for managing, configuring and optimising HVAC systems.
One of the key developments introduced with iCM Pro is its ability to integrate and coordinate, within a single control strategy, Daikin equipment as well as compatible chillers and heat pumps from other manufacturers, supporting up to 16 units per controller. According to Daikin, this flexibility can be particularly useful in retrofit projects where complete system replacement may be complex or impractical.
The control architecture is pre-configured using proprietary Daikin software to simplify configuration and commissioning. It is available in four configurations, designed to suit plants of varying sizes and complexity levels. The platform can manage up to 4, 8, 12 or 16 chillers and heat pumps within a single control architecture, enabling users to select the solution best suited to their specific application requirements.
For each configuration, different datapoint management capacities are also available, ranging from 500 to 5,000 datapoints. This allows the system to be sized not only according to the number of units to be controlled but also according to the quantity of signals, parameters, devices and information that need to be monitored and managed.
ICM PRO has been developed to manage a wide range of plant configurations, including installations with both air-cooled and water-cooled chillers and heat pumps, as well as multi-functional units. The platform supports two-pipe and four-pipe systems for simultaneous heating and cooling production, as well as seasonal changeover applications and systems dedicated exclusively to either heating or cooling. In addition, it coordinates all major plant auxiliaries, including pumps, cooling towers and control valves, allowing the entire system to operate as a single optimised ecosystem.
At the core of the platform is a new two-level software architecture, entirely developed by Daikin Applied Europe. Alongside validated Daikin control algorithms, a second layer based on Niagara technology provides additional customisation possibilities, allowing configurations, operating logic and functionality to be adapted to individual project requirements while retaining the validated Daikin control layer.
ICM PRO manages multiple-unit systems by continuously monitoring parameters including unit availability, alarm status, operating priorities, running hours, start frequency and the thermal demand of the plant. Based on these parameters, the platform adjusts the operating strategy according to plant load conditions, with the aim of improving operational efficiency and reducing unnecessary equipment operation.
A key new feature is flow-based sequencing, which complements traditional temperature-based control strategies by taking the plant’s hydraulic demand into account when managing individual units. This approach is particularly suited to variable-flow systems, primary-secondary configurations, multi-zone buildings and industrial processes with dynamic loads, allowing control to respond more closely to changing plant conditions.
