REHAU TABS system specified to cool Tate Modern extension

Tate Modern has opened its new £260 million extension, which makes use of REHAU’s Thermally Activated Building Structure (TABS) system for ecological cooling.

Designed by Herzog & de Meuron, the new Tate Modern building is almost 64 metres high. It is both aesthetically-pleasing, boasting a distinctive brick lattice façade, and energy efficient: predicted to use 50% less energy than a conventional gallery, the building has achieved a BREEAM ‘Very Good’ rating.

REHAU’s TABS system was selected for use in the M&E design of the extension. The specification was carried out by Max Fordham; the system was installed and applied by Byrne Bros Formwork

TABS system

REHAU began supplying its PE-Xa pipework and fittings to Byrne Bros Formwork in 2012; the company embedded the pipework in a series of pre-cast concrete slabs, which make up each floor of the new 20-storey building.

In total, loops of over 24,000 metres of pipework were fitting on the reinforcement before the concrete was cast. REHAU’s EVERLOC compression sleeve fittings were then used to join the embedded pipework when the slabs were delivered to site.

The TABS concrete core tempering solution enables the circulation of cooled groundwater around the building. The slabs act as thermal stores, providing sustainable cooling for the new gallery space.

TABS technology offers ‘soft cooling’ with no draughts and the ability to reduce the output of other cooling devices; low investment costs made it an attractive solution for Tate Modern.

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Hill Court,
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Ross on Wye,
Herefordshire,
HR9 5QN

Email address: enquiries@rehau.com
Tel: 01989 72600

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