Ceiling cassette · Flush in the ceiling · Daikin
Daikin Round Flow cassette
Blows air out in all directions for an even temperature with no dead spots.
- 360° airflow
- Auto-swing louvres
- Slim casing for shallow ceilings
Ceiling cassette air conditioning
Ceiling cassette air conditioning: even heating and cooling from above
Ceiling cassette air conditioning sits flush in the ceiling and sends air out in four directions, so a large room heats and cools evenly with nothing on the walls. Apex fits cassettes for offices, shops, restaurants, salons and open-plan homes across Kent, south-east London and central London.
How it works
What is a ceiling cassette air conditioner?
A cassette is the indoor half of a split system, built to sit inside the ceiling. The body hides in the void. All you see is a square panel, flush with the ceiling.
It draws room air in through the grille in the middle, passes it through a filter and over a coil, then blows it out through louvres on each side. The louvres swing, so the air spreads across the room instead of in one jet. Pipes run above the ceiling to an outdoor unit, the same as any split.
Like a wall unit, it heats as well as cools, so one cassette can keep a shop or office comfortable all year.
The main types
- Compact four-way. Fits a standard 600mm ceiling grid. Usually covers outputs up to about 5kW or 6kW. The most common choice for offices.
- Full-size four-way. A larger panel, often around 950mm square, for big open floors and higher outputs.
- Round flow (360°). Air leaves in every direction, for an even spread with no dead spots.
- One-way. A slim unit for narrow rooms or along a window wall.
Is it right for you?
Where a cassette makes sense
- Offices and meeting rooms with suspended ceilings, where a compact cassette drops into one ceiling tile.
- Shops, restaurants and cafés, where wall space is for display or seating. We have fitted a Panasonic 5kW cassette to serve a restaurant.
- Salons, surgeries and clinics that need even, draught-free air.
- Large open-plan homes and kitchen extensions with a ceiling void to work with.
Why businesses choose cassettes
- Air spread in four directions, so no hot or cold corners.
- Compact versions fit a single 600mm ceiling tile.
- Nothing on the walls, and the unit sits out of reach.
- A built-in pump lifts the condensate, so the drain can run above the ceiling.
Worth weighing up
- Needs a ceiling void, so it is easiest in suspended ceilings or during building work.
- Filters are cleaned from a ladder, so businesses usually book planned servicing.
- The drain pump is one more part to look after.
The survey
What we check before fitting a cassette
- Void depth. Compact models fit voids from about 245mm. Full-size ones need more.
- Ceiling height. Most suit standard ceilings. Some models are rated for ceilings up to about 4m, useful in shops and warehouses.
- What is already up there. Joists, lights, sprinklers, smoke detectors and cable trays decide where the panel can go.
- The drain. The built-in pump lifts water a short way, then it needs a fall to a drain. We plan that route first.
- Access. Someone needs to reach the pump and filters later, so we leave a way in.
At home
Ceiling cassette air conditioning for homes
Cassettes are not just for offices. In a large kitchen-diner extension or an open-plan ground floor, one cassette in the middle of the ceiling can do the job of two wall units, with nothing on the walls.
The best time to fit one is while the ceiling is open. If you are building an extension, talk to us before the plasterboard goes up and we can leave the opening, pipe route and drain ready. Where there is no void at all, a wall mounted unit or a floor console is usually the better answer.
Compare
Cassette vs wall mounted vs ducted
Swipe sideways to see the whole table →
| Point | Cassette | Wall mounted | Ducted |
|---|---|---|---|
| What you see | A flush ceiling panel | A unit high on the wall | Slim grilles only |
| Air spread | Four directions | One direction | Through grilles in each room |
| Space needed | A ceiling void | A clear wall | A deeper void or loft, plus ducts |
| Rooms served | One large room | One room | Several rooms |
| Disruption to fit | Medium | Low | Highest |
For businesses
Cassettes in offices, shops and restaurants
Besides the restaurant cassette above, we have fitted Samsung compact cassette systems, including for a client in Woolwich, and deep cleaned a Daikin cassette split system.
Restaurants, salons and busy shops load filters with grease, hair and dust much faster than homes, so cassettes there often need servicing more than once a year. A blocked filter cuts the output and makes the unit work harder.
If the air conditioning in your building adds up to more than 12kW, the law requires a TM44 energy inspection at least every five years by an accredited assessor. Larger systems may also need yearly F-gas leak checks. We keep the service records you need. See commercial air conditioning for more.
What affects the cost of a cassette
- Compact or full-size, and the kW output.
- The ceiling: a suspended grid is quicker than cutting into plasterboard.
- The pipe and drain route above the ceiling.
- Where the outdoor unit goes: ground, wall bracket or roof frame.
- Out-of-hours working, if the space has to stay open.
Our cost guide explains the published UK price ranges. You get a fixed written quote after a free survey.
WhatsApp a photo
A photo is often enough for a first idea of what will work.
Ranges we fit
Cassette units we fit
Ranges we fit include these. Makers update their models often, so we recommend the current one that suits your room and budget at the survey.
Ceiling cassette · Flush in the ceiling · Daikin
Daikin Fully Flat cassette
Sits flush with a standard 600mm ceiling tile, so lights and sprinklers can go in the next tile.
- Flush finish
- Movement sensor to save energy
- Wall-mounted controller
Ceiling cassette · Flush in the ceiling · Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric PLA-M
A four-way cassette with horizontal airflow and an optional 3D i-see sensor that reacts to people in the room.
- Horizontal airflow to cut draughts
- Optional 3D i-see sensor
- Suits ceilings up to about 4m
Ceiling cassette · Fits one ceiling tile · Mitsubishi Electric
Mitsubishi Electric SLZ-M
A slim cassette that fits a 600mm ceiling grid and narrow voids from 245mm.
- Fits a single ceiling tile
- Optional 3D i-see sensor
- R32 refrigerant
Also in the range
- Panasonic cassette (Panasonic) Flush in the ceiling. Four-way and compact cassettes for restaurants, shops and offices, with wired or app control.
Real Apex jobs
Commercial jobs we have done
Real job photo 
Real job photo 
Real job photo 
Real job photo 
10/10 Checkatrade
We had Apex in to install are air conditioning and heating in our salon. I could not recommend olly enough. They stayed late to get the job finished. No mess left behind fully cleaned the unit and made sure it was all running well. Very polite and accommodating and they designed the unit to the exact specifications we required. Would highly recommend them.
Google
First class service! Ollie is very knowledgeable, provided a thorough service and deep clean of all our units and fixed a leak.
Compare
Other types of system
Wall-mounted systems
The most popular choice for bedrooms and living rooms.
Find out moreFloor-mounted systems
Low on the wall, ideal for lofts and replacing radiators.
Find out moreDucted systems
Hidden in the ceiling, only the grilles show.
Find out moreAirzone zoning
Room-by-room temperature control for ducted systems.
Find out moreBrands we fit
Daikin, Mitsubishi Electric and Panasonic.
Find out moreQuestions
Ceiling cassette questions
Are ceiling cassette air conditioners any good?
For big rooms, yes. Because a cassette sends air out on four sides from the middle of the ceiling, it avoids the hot and cold corners you can get from one wall unit at the end of a long room. It is quiet, keeps the walls free and suits offices, shops and open-plan spaces. For a single small room, a wall unit is simpler.
How much ceiling space does a cassette need?
It depends on the model. Compact cassettes that fit a 600mm ceiling grid can go in voids from about 245mm deep. Full-size four-way cassettes usually need more. We also check the joists, lights, sprinklers and the drain route. We measure the void at the survey, and if it is too shallow we suggest another option.
Can a cassette go in a plasterboard ceiling at home?
Yes, if there is space above it and a way to run the pipes and drain. We cut a neat opening, frame it between the joists and fit the panel flush. It is easiest during an extension, loft work or renovation, before the ceiling is finished. Upstairs, access from the loft above helps a lot.
Is a cassette better than ducted air conditioning?
A cassette shows a panel about the size of a ceiling tile. A ducted unit hides completely and shows only slim grilles, but needs more ceiling depth and ductwork. For one big room a cassette is usually simpler and cheaper. For several rooms from one hidden unit, ducted makes more sense.
Why is my ceiling cassette leaking water?
Usually because the condensate pump has failed or the drain is blocked, so water backs up and drips from the panel. A dirty coil or low refrigerant can also cause icing that melts and drips. Switch to fan only or off, and book an engineer. Our air conditioning repairs page explains the common faults.
Get a quote for a cassette system
Talk to Olly directly. He quotes and fits the jobs himself.
Quickest way to a price: send on WhatsApp
- A photo of the room and the outside wall
- Your town and what you need
- For a repair, the unit's label and any error code
Free survey and a fixed written quote for new systems. No obligation.