Thermally Activated Building Structures (TABS)

Download our specifier’s guide towards a carbon-zero future

This whitepaper aims to demonstrating how TABS works, why it’s necessary and its value for construction in a low-carbon economy.

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REHAU TABS specifiers guide front cover October 2021 - 1097705

Thermally Activated Building Structures (TABS): Efficient Heating and Cooling Solutions

Energy cost, carbon reduction and legislation drive the need to find new and innovative ways to heat and cool modern buildings. Thermally Activated Building Structures - or TABS – is an innovative cooling and heating system engineered to meet these high requirements.

TABS utilises the large thermal mass of concrete building structures as a buffer for the changing cooling or heating loads during the day. It does this by running hot or cold water through pipes within the slab.

TABS is proving itself as an efficient low energy cooling system on various BREEAM "Excellent" and "Very Good", and Passivhaus certified projects across the UK.

Benefits

Thermally activated building structures have the following benefits;

Low investment and operating costs
"Gentle cooling" without draft effects
Reduced air exchange in combination with ventilation systems
No sick building syndrome
Use of alternative energy sources
Low flow temperatures

Energy Savings

Air

Chiller

Comfort Levels

Lower air volumes -
> less energy required
& reduced fan size

Higher temps (15-18°C)

compared to AC (6-12°C)

Increased comfort and
reduced draughts

Noise Reduction

COP uplift of chiller

1°C increase in room temp
= ca. 6% energy savings

Applications

Typical applications of Thermally Activated Building Structures:

Offices
Hospitals
Retail
Museums / galleries
Transport hubs / stations
Sport centres / arena

Installation Methods

In-situ concrete slabs

Large circuits possible
Minimal connections within structure
Around 300m² installed per day (2 people)
Can sit anywhere within structural slab

Precast concrete planks

Offsite construction methods
Quick to install on site
Easy connections into building services
High cooling capacity of up to 90W/m²

Pre-fabricated mesh

Fast installation
Can be used for PT slab applications
Better outputs when near slab surface
Ideal for Tichelmann Loops
2 options - sTABS or TABS module

REHAU EVERLOC^TM system

Beyond the REHAU PE-Xa pipe, the jointing system plays a central role. Over 850 million fittings have been installed worldwide, our jointing system consists of only 2 components; a compression sleeve and fitting.

Benefits:

Fast and easy to install
No hot works on site, no mess
10 year comprehensive warranty
No O-ring
Installation is immediately able to handle pressure loads

Projects

2016 REHAU at the heart of Tate Modern

REHAU’s Thermally Activated Building Structure (TABS) system is at the heart of the newly opened £260m extension to Tate Modern on London’s South Bank.

2016 University of Northampton

University of Northampton’s new £330m Waterside Campus development have been designed utilising REHAU’s innovative TABS system.

2017 REHAU provides TABS for landmark office

With more than 150 km of REHAU’s Thermally Activated Building Structure (TABS) system installed.

2018 University of Warwick chooses REHAU

Mathematical Sciences Building uses REHAU TABS

News

06.08.2025 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.

28.07.2025 Ambient loop heat networks - how REHAU can help

There is always a debate about 4th vs 5th generation district heating, and which is the best approach but there is no one size fits all solution. We typically assume 5th generation being a direct progression of the 4th but there are in fact some very significant differences and these can even be used together.

15.05.2025 REHAU Expands Commercial Plumbing and Heating Sales Team

REHAU UK, building solutions division has appointed Matthew Edney to Regional Sales Manager for the South of England, with a focus on expanding its commercial plumbing and heating solutions product category.

All news

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