Danfoss AB-QM was the first of its kind control valve for HVAC heating and cooling applications. It is a control valve with automatic flow limitation and built-in differential pressure control functioning over the control valve. The result of this concept is a high performing control valve with a – still - unique valve authority of 100%. The design flow can easily be set to the needed amount by using a 10% or 20% to 100% scale. Simply setting the design flow replaces traditional commissioning processes, gives a much more accurate control and avoids Kv calculations for system designers.
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When equipped with a Danfoss actuator, PICVs increase the energy efficiency and improve the indoor climate. The AB-QM is mainly used for air handling units, climate ceilings, fan-coil units and other terminal units in HVAC heating and cooling systems.
Features and benefits
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Easy setting and sizing
Selecting the right AB-QM is much less complicated than sizing and selecting conventional control valves. Once the design flow is determined the matching AB-QM can be selected, no additional Kv and authority calculations are required.
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100% authority
Having a 100% valve authority increases the control quality and precision, also at low flow requirements. This creates a better comfort in the building, as well as increasing the energy savings.
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Perfect control
By providing the right flow at the right time, the AB-QM optimizes chiller and boiler efficiency and reduces pumping costs. In addition, the actuators need to make much less movements, increasing the lifetime value and lowering the Total Cost of Ownership.

New: AB-QM 4.0
Get ready for the next level value of your PICV designs.
Documents
| Type | Name | Language | Valid for | Updated | Download | File type |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | German | Multiple | 27 Jan, 2026 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Korean | Multiple | 11 Apr, 2025 | 3.6 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Czech | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Norwegian Bokmål | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.3 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Serbian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Slovenian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Slovak | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Spanish, Castilian | Multiple | 11 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Italian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | French | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Portuguese | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Turkish | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Croatian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.3 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Danish | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Chinese | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.5 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Lithuanian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Bulgarian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.3 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Estonian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Finnish | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Latvian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Swedish | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Hungarian | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.3 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Dutch, Flemish | Multiple | 10 Apr, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | English | Multiple | 24 Nov, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Ukrainian | Ukraine | 24 Feb, 2023 | 4.1 MB | |
| Data sheet | AB-QM 4.0 / AB-QM Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICV) | Polish | Multiple | 17 Jun, 2025 | 3.4 MB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Introduction leaflet | Polish | Poland | 30 Jun, 2020 | 701.7 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Introduction leaflet | Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan | Romania | 30 Aug, 2020 | 1.2 MB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Introduction leaflet | German | Multiple | 14 Oct, 2019 | 390.5 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Introduction leaflet | Hungarian | Hungary | 03 Nov, 2020 | 443.7 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Product leaflet | German | Germany | 14 Apr, 2020 | 489.0 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Product leaflet | French | France | 10 Sep, 2020 | 1.6 MB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Product leaflet | Dutch, Flemish | Netherlands | 24 Jun, 2020 | 465.1 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Product leaflet | English | Multiple | 07 Nov, 2022 | 680.9 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM 4.0 Product leaflet | Slovak | Slovakia | 25 Mar, 2021 | 624.5 KB | |
| Brochure | AB-QM Actuator Selection Infographic - UK | English | United Kingdom | 14 Jan, 2021 | 8.6 MB | |
| Application guide | Application guide | Italian | Italy | 06 Mar, 2021 | 10.1 MB | |
| Application guide | Application leaflet | Lithuanian | Lithuania | 17 May, 2021 | 19.0 MB | |
| Brochure | Energy saving solutions for renovation of heating and cooling systems | Hungarian | Hungary | 31 Aug, 2014 | 6.4 MB | |
| Brochure | Energy saving solutions for renovation of heating and cooling systems | English | Multiple | 09 Sep, 2014 | 5.9 MB | |
| Brochure | Energy saving solutions for renovation of heating and cooling systems | Polish | Multiple | 18 Feb, 2019 | 5.9 MB | |
| Brochure | Energy saving solutions for renovation of heating and cooling systems | Romanian, Moldavian, Moldovan | Romania | 31 Aug, 2014 | 6.4 MB | |
| Brochure | Hotel application brochure | Spanish, Castilian | Spain | 11 May, 2015 | 10.8 MB | |
| Brochure | Hotel application brochure | English | Multiple | 02 Sep, 2014 | 654.7 KB | |
| Application guide | HVAC Application guide | Polish | Poland | 13 Jun, 2021 | 11.3 MB | |
| Application guide | HVAC Application guide | Latvian | Latvia | 20 Apr, 2021 | 20.2 MB | |
| Application guide | HVAC Application guide | Czech | Czech Republic | 17 Nov, 2014 | 7.3 MB | |
| Application guide | HVAC Application guide | Spanish, Castilian | Spain | 01 Feb, 2022 | 8.7 MB | |
| Application guide | HVAC Application guide | English | Multiple | 25 Oct, 2020 | 19.4 MB | |
| Application guide | HVAC Application guide 2021 | Hungarian | Hungary | 20 Sep, 2021 | 11.7 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for AB-QM PICVs | Czech | Czech Republic | 17 Feb, 2021 | 3.4 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for AB-QM PICVs | Chinese | Taiwan | 06 May, 2025 | 3.2 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for AB-QM PICVs | Swedish | Sweden | 17 Oct, 2025 | 3.8 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for AB-QM PICVs | Ukrainian | Ukraine | 15 Aug, 2023 | 2.1 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for AB-QM PICVs | English | Multiple | 17 Sep, 2024 | 3.4 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for AB-QM PICVs | Polish | Poland | 08 Jun, 2021 | 2.3 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuator selection for PICVs | Dutch, Flemish | Netherlands | 20 Feb, 2025 | 3.1 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic - Actuators for AB-QM PICVs | German | Multiple | 09 Mar, 2023 | 7.0 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | English | Multiple | 07 Nov, 2022 | 2.3 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | Italian | Italy | 15 Nov, 2022 | 628.4 KB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | German | Multiple | 06 Mar, 2023 | 6.5 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | Dutch, Flemish | Netherlands | 02 Jun, 2023 | 4.3 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | Czech | Czech Republic | 17 Feb, 2021 | 5.3 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | Ukrainian | Ukraine | 11 Aug, 2023 | 1.3 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | Serbian | Serbia | 29 Aug, 2021 | 9.0 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic AB-QM 4.0 compared to AB-QM | Polish | Poland | 20 Apr, 2022 | 5.5 MB | |
| Brochure | Infographic How AB-QM 4.0 redefines the value of PICVs | French | Multiple | 19 Oct, 2020 | 2.1 MB | |
| Brochure | Interactive actuator selection guide for Danfoss AB-QM valves | Finnish | Finland | 20 Aug, 2024 | 2.6 MB | |
| Case story | NovoCon - outstanding HVAC flexibility after office building renovation | English | Multiple | 27 Sep, 2020 | 960.1 KB |

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Related products

AME 435 QM actuator for modulating control is used with pressure independent balancing and control valve type AB-QM from DN 40 to DN 100.

AB-QM 4.0 Pressure Independent Control Valves (PICVs) are the successor of Danfoss AB-QM. They offer best-in-class specifications and easy installation. The scaling- and clogging resistant design secures and outstanding reliability and long lifetime. The required design flow can easily be established by turning the setting wheel on top of the valve to a presetting between 10-100% of the nominal flow. A wide variety of on/off, modulating and digital actuators is available to accurately control the flow through the valves.

With NovoCon® Danfoss revolutionizes the way hydronic balancing and HVAC control work together. The first of its kind digital HVAC actuators are directly connected with a Building Management System (BMS). This enables System Integrators to design state-of-art, Internet of Things (IoT) solutions.
Software
Danfoss SET 365 software
Our advanced Danfoss SET 365 3D design software will help you to design and calculate HVAC systems with Danfoss products. A 1-year subscription is FREE available for students, designers and other interested professionals.

New AB-QM selection tool
You can now easy find the right size and/or pre-setting of your AB-QM valves using our new AB-QM selection tool. Try it out here!

Case stories

Building: Hotel/resort
Application: Heat pump system for comfort cooling via fan coil units
Challenge: Increase guest comfort and save on energy costs
Solution: The hydronic HVAC system for cooling was equipped with AB-QM 4.0 PICV valves for dynamic hydronic balancing and control via TWA-Q thermal actuators

Building: Office
Application: Hydronic balancing and remote control of 4-pipe heating/cooling change-over system.
Challenge: Gaining BREEAM credits for energy monitoring and ensure fast, fail free installation.
Solution: Digital NovoCon S actuator combined with AB-QM 4.0 PICVs and ChangeOver6 Energy. The combination balances the system hydronically, allow remote access via a BMS and provides actual energy consumption data per climate panel during both heating and cooling operation.

Building: Office
Application: Hydronic balancing and remote control of 4-pipe heating/cooling change-over system
Challenge: Ensure a flexible to use HVAC system with DGNB sustainability certification
Solution: Digital NovoCon actuator combined with AB-QM control valves and NovoCon CO6 combined with ChangeOver6 as a combination balance the system hydronically, allow remote access via a BMS and control the room temperatures during both heating and cooling operation.

Building: Office
Application: Climate panels with a four-pipe change-over system for Heating and Cooling
Challenge: Establish a modern, innovative HVAC control system optimized for flexibility in (changing) usage of office space
Solution: Integration of Danfoss field devices with the Building Management System via BACnet bus-communication

Building: Hotel
Application: Hydronic balancing and control for radiator heating and fan coil cooling
Challenge: Establish top level comfort and minimum energy consumption for heating and cooling
Solution: Fan-coil units for cooling; 8 heating risers and radiators equipped with Danfoss products.
Videos
Tender texts
AB-QM – Pressure Independent balancing and Control Valve (PICV)
The pressure independent balancing and control valve means that the control characteristic is independent from the available pressure. The precise flow control performance of the AB-QM with a Danfoss actuator provides increased comfort and superior Total Cost of Ownership. The AB-QM ensures and control the required flow on every terminal unit and maintains Hydronic balance in the system.
AB-QM has following features:
- Flow limitation function
- Modulating below 1% of set flow, regardless of the setting
- Authority of 1 at all settings
- Able to close against 16 bar of differential pressure
- Linear control characteristic
- Scale in percentage of flow
- Control ratio 1:1000
- Test plugs for pump optimization and flow verification for DN 15-250
Available in the range from DN 15 – 250 from one supplier.
- Characteristic changed from linear to equal percentage characteristic at all sizes by adjusting actuator settings
- Lockable setting
- Starting pressure of 16 kPa for DN 15 – DN 20 LF and NF
- Starting pressure of 20 kPa for DN 25 – DN 32 NF
- Starting pressure of 25 kPa for DN 15 – DN 20 HF
- Starting pressure of 30 kPa for DN 25 – DN 32 HF
- Starting pressure of 30 kPa for DN 40 – DN 250
- Leakage rate of no visible leakage for DN 15 - DN 20 in combination with recommended actuator
- Leakage of 0.05 % of the Qnom for DN 25 - DN 100 in combination with recommended actuator
- Leakage of 0.01 % of the Qnom for DN 125 - DN 250 in combination with recommended actuator
We offer expert hydronic HVAC design and consultancy services at Danfoss' Design Support Center.
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