Project Overview

Brightview Northfax is a large-scale multifamily residential development in Fairfax, Virginia served by a multi-building VRF system. Capital Energy Equipment was engaged to supply and install a complete building automation and life safety controls package — integrating the DISIO Cloud BMS with a building-wide Critical Environment Technologies (CET) R410A refrigerant leak detection system.

The project spans three buildings (First Floor/Lobby, North, and South) with a combined network of 258 solid-state refrigerant detectors continuously monitoring every residential zone, mechanical room, and corridor where VRF branch selectors and refrigerant piping are present.

Challenge

Large-scale VRF systems in occupied residential buildings introduce a critical life safety obligation: refrigerant leak detection and automatic system shutdown must be engineered to protect occupants without unnecessary disruption to uninvolved zones. With over 15 condenser units (CUs) and hundreds of branch selector (BS) valves distributed across three building sections, the controls architecture needed to be precise, zone-specific, and fully integrated with the VRF equipment’s digital expansion modules.

Meeting ASHRAE 15 and local code requirements while coordinating across the general contractor, mechanical sub, and electrical sub required a carefully sequenced submittal and commissioning process.

Solution

CEE designed and installed a three-panel gas detection architecture — one panel per building section — each integrating with dedicated Expansion Modules and remote relay panels via BACnet MS/TP. Upon detection of R410A at or above 250 PPM in any zone, the system executes a coordinated, zone-specific response:

The DISIO Cloud panel provides centralized visibility across all three detection panels, enabling facility managers to view alarm status, acknowledge events, and monitor system health remotely — without requiring an on-site visit for routine checks.

Equipment Supplied & Installed

Outcome

A fully commissioned, code-compliant refrigerant leak detection and VRF controls system protecting all residential zones across the Brightview Northfax development. The DISIO Cloud integration gives property management real-time visibility and remote diagnostic access — eliminating reactive service calls and supporting proactive facility management from day one.