Navigating Green Mark 2021 and Refrigerant Compliance

The seminar directly addressed immediate shifts in the local market. Singapore's Green Mark 2021 and Super Low Energy (SLE) standards have significantly raised the technical baseline for chilled-water projects across the island. Concurrently, the industry transition to low-GWP (Global Warming Potential) refrigerants has introduced critical fire-safety compliance layers that design teams must now navigate.

Technical sessions translated these regulatory updates into concrete design decisions. Presenters demonstrated how water-side plant efficiency and air-side delivery integrate into Total System Efficiency—the ultimate benchmark for modern chilled-water design.

Special attention was given to the safety protocols required for low-carbon refrigerants such as R1234ze. Classified as a Class 2L mildly flammable gas, its usage falls under the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) Petroleum and Flammable Materials regulations. Industry experts emphasized that selecting eco-friendly refrigerants and designing machinery rooms can no longer be treated as separate decisions, requiring integrated planning for leak detection, forced-air exhaust, and fire-rated enclosures.

Advancing Efficiency via In-House Magnetic-Bearing Technology

As magnetic-bearing centrifugal chillers become a mainstream pathway to achieving SLE plant performance, the seminar explored the core mechanisms driving these efficiency gains. Midea highlighted its permanent magnet synchronous motors, direct-drive architecture, and symmetrical magnetic bearing arrangements that utilize generator mode to keep the rotor safely levitated even during sudden power losses.

From a lifecycle perspective, oil-free magnetic-bearing machines eliminate the recurring maintenance costs of oil changes, filters, and pumps. More importantly, they prevent oil migration inside the heat exchanger, preserving peak thermal efficiency over years of continuous operation—a critical factor for data centers and industrial plants. Furthermore, because Midea holds the proprietary technology for both the chiller and the compressor, damaged components can be repaired or replaced directly on-site, drastically reducing maintenance downtime compared to typical factory repair cycles.

Industry Perspectives on Local Capability and AI Demand

The seminar featured guest sharing segments from independent industry experts who offered a broader view of market development:

• Dr. Pan Heng, project manager at Global Switch, highlighted Midea's strategic shift from a product exporter to a localized technical force tailored to Singapore's Green Mark standards. He emphasized that this comprehensive engineering capability is most evident in advanced data centre projects, where Midea successfully integrates temperature control, magnetic-bearing tech, liquid cooling, and BMS from factory testing (FAT) through to final site commissioning.
• Mr. Toh Boo Hor, Senior director of Asia Infrastructure Solutions, noted that as demands for Data Centre rapidly expand, the necessity for reliable vendor support, and close collaboration remain the priority beyond system efficiency.

Midea Building Technologies Introduces the International HVAC Design Contest to Singapore

Marking a major milestone, Midea Building Technologies introduced the HVAC Design Contest to Singapore for the first time, inviting the local design community to participate. Established in 2002 and expanded globally in 2021, the contest runs under the theme Ensoul Buildings.

The competition stands out in the industry through three core features:

• Brand-Neutrality: The contest is fully open to the industry; engineering projects designed around equipment from any manufacturer are eligible for entry.
• Performance-Driven: Unlike conceptual competitions, entries in the Professional and Distributor categories must feature completed projects in stable operation with verified performance data.
• Expert Evaluation: Submissions will be evaluated by an independent panel of industry professionals through a local preliminary round, followed by a multi-region international panel.

Strengthening Local Delivery and Service Support

To support engineering specifications from design through handover, Midea showcased its comprehensive local infrastructure in Singapore:

• Expanded Product Lineup: Introduction of the VC Max series and ATOM B single-phase VRF platform, designed to offer high piping flexibility and multi-indoor unit connectivity for condominiums, shophouses, and small offices where full-scale commercial systems are not viable.
• Tiered Parts Network: A global spare parts framework leveraging headquarters, regional hubs, and dedicated local stock in Singapore to guarantee rapid turnaround times.
• Certified Field Personnel: All deployed engineers hold verified local safety and trade certifications, including bizSAFE accreditation, ISO 45001 compliance, and Workplace Safety and Health qualifications.

By bridging regulatory interpretation, advanced technology assessment, and dedicated local field support, Midea Building Technologies is engaging the Singapore design community as a long-term technical partner rather than a traditional equipment supplier—collaborating to optimize how the nation's buildings perform.

For more information, please visit: https://www.midea.com/sg

Toshiba Singapore introduces the new Toshiba NaturePURE Series Refrigerators, a next-generation range of large-capacity refrigerators designed for families who need more storage without taking up more kitchen space. Built on Toshiba's upgraded refrigerator technology, the NaturePURE Series delivers a larger usable capacity within an optimized body size, offering 688L for the Four-Door model and 692L for the Side-by-Side model.

Launched under the slogan "Not just bigger… Purer. Fresher. Better.", the NaturePURE Series combines spacious same-footprint capacity, PureAIR Turbo air purification and Superior Cooling technology to provide a more complete food preservation solution for Singapore households.

Not Just Bigger: More Capacity in the Same Footprint

In Singapore, where kitchen space is often limited, a bigger refrigerator should not simply mean a bigger appliance. Through upgraded refrigerator design and optimized internal structure, Toshiba NaturePURE maximizes usable storage space without significantly increasing external dimensions.

With 688L and 692L capacity options, the NaturePURE Series allows families to store more groceries, fresh produce, frozen food and daily essentials with ease — making it bigger where it matters most: inside.

Purer with PureAIR Turbo

Large capacity matters even more when food is stored in a clean and fresh environment. The Toshiba NaturePURE Series Refrigerators are equipped with PureAIR Turbo, an advanced purification technology designed to help reduce up to 99% of bacteria and unpleasant odors inside the refrigerator.

With one touch, PureAIR Turbo boosts ion release by 3 times, helping to create a fresher storage environment and minimize odor transfer between different ingredients such as seafood, meat, fruits, vegetables and strongly scented foods.

Fresher with Superior Cooling

To keep food fresh for longer, stable and even cooling is essential. Superior Cooling helps maintain optimal temperature conditions across different compartments, whether the refrigerator is lightly stocked or filled after a weekly grocery run.

Together with Super Cooling and Super Freezing Modes, the NaturePURE Series helps quickly lock in freshness for newly stored groceries, preserving the taste, texture and quality of fresh and frozen food.

Better Everyday Convenience

True to Toshiba's #DetailsMatter philosophy, the NaturePURE Series is designed around everyday family needs. Spacious compartments, adjustable shelves and well-organized storage areas make it easy to arrange food by category or occasion.

The Functional Zone offers flexible temperature settings for different types of ingredients, while TSmartLife Wi-Fi connectivity allows users to control selected refrigerator functions anytime, anywhere. A premium exterior design and user-friendly digital control interface further enhance convenience and bring a modern look to the kitchen.

August Launch Promotion: Free Ice Maker with Purchase

To celebrate the launch of the Toshiba NaturePURE Series Refrigerators in Singapore, customers who purchase selected NaturePURE models during August will receive a free ice maker.

Promotion period: August 2026
Gift: Free ice maker with purchase of selected Toshiba NaturePURE Series Refrigerators
Models: GR-RF900WI (Four-Door), GR-RS910WI (Side-by-Side)
Terms and conditions apply. While stocks last.

Not Just Bigger… Purer. Fresher. Better.

With large capacity, PureAIR Turbo purification, Superior Cooling and thoughtful smart features, the Toshiba NaturePURE Series Refrigerators are more than just bigger fridges. They are complete food storage solutions designed for modern Singapore families.

The Toshiba NaturePURE Series Refrigerators are available through Toshiba Website, as well as authorized online and offline retailers.

For more information, please visit:
https://www.toshiba-lifestyle.com/sg