District heating: low carbon heat networks

Heat networks, fed by renewable energy and waste heat, are key to the future of energy with low carbon heat supply. As a polymer specialist, we offer decades of expertise, comprehensive planning and construction site service and a pre-insulated pipe systems with up to 70% longer service life.

Why district heating?
Compared to supplying individual buildings, heat from renewable energies and waste heat can be provided much more cost-effectively using polymer heating networks. New heat sources and innovative technologies can simply be integrated centrally, resulting in an economic and sustainable heat supply.

Our unrivalled expertise in heat networks means that we can provide advice and support for your district heating projects from the planning stage to realisation.

Polymer pre-insulated pipe systems for district heating

Why pre-insulated polymer pipe systems?

Polymer pre-insulated pipe systems offer a number of advantages – first and foremost in terms of flexibility. Obstacles in the pipe trench, such as crossing sewer pipes or chambers, can be simply bypassed without the need for additional jointing and prefabricated parts. Our polymer pipe systems use our EVERLOC, a simple and robust compression sleeve jointing system, which can be easily installed. Compared to steel, there is also no risk of corrosion damage to the pipework or the need to install expansion joints.

Network connections

For heat networks the jointing technique is one of the crucial factors for safety, workability and cost-effectiveness. Our solution: the compression sleeve jointing technique developed by REHAU. The EVERLOC jointing system, utilises two components and has been installed over 1 billion times worldwide offering users a reliable system with up to 50% faster connections.

We have two established systems tailored to the RAUTHERMEX, RAUVIPEX and RAUVITHERM pipe systems to reliably re-insulate the connection: a heat-shrink shroud system and the tried-and-tested REHAU clip system. A new addition to the range is the CLIP-FLEX universal shroud system, which requires no hot works and offers more design flexibility.

The necessary I, T and L sleeves are available for all systems.

System components

Why REHAU

With more than 40 years of experience in the development and manufacture of PE-Xa pipes, we have unique expertise and innovative, tested system solutions. REHAU has had an accredited laboratory at its Erlangen site since 1979 and is ISO 9001 certified. Our 360-degree service supports the planning and implementation of heat networks. This includes, for example, a detailed pipe network and heat loss calculation, including hydraulic optimisation, as well as instruction and training on the construction site, including the provision of tools and installation aids.

Three pre-insulated systems with maximum flexibility and excellent insulation
Tried and tested compression sleeve press connection
Designed for the future of energy
UK based stocks and project support

Find out more about the REHAU local heating DNA

Trends in District Heating Pipework

This whitepaper aims to provide district heating specifiers and contractors with key considerations and technical points for the next generation of low carbon heat networks.

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News

21.10.2025 Next Level Heat Networks event

REHAU is set to host a free in-person workshop centred around the future of district heating on 27 November 2025, at The Building Centre in London. The Next Level Heat Networks workshop offers a free opportunity to gain innovative insights into low-carbon heat networks, panel discussions and a chance to network with industry experts.

03.09.2025 Construction and Decarbonised Heat: Supplying the Suburbs

The continuing phase-out of gas boilers leaves new-build housing construction at a crossroads. Debate continues over what comes next in home heating, but with sustainability, efficiency and cost-effectiveness proving key, district heating networks are growing in popularity as a potential option.

12.08.2025 Key Considerations when Specifying Commercial Plumbing Systems

Growing demand for commercial projects has led to further scrutiny on all building services, with a drive for faster, more efficient installations with assured, long-lasting performance. Here we explore the implications for plumbing system specification.

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