Background

TABS – Thermally Activated Building Systems is an established principle in concrete construction and is becoming increasingly important for energy-efficient buildings. Wood, by contrast, has so far received little consideration as a thermal storage medium for heating and cooling systems. Yet solid wood – especially cross-laminated timber – offers significant potential for sustainable, area-efficient, and cost-effective thermal energy storage, particularly in the context of renewable energy and modern heat pump technologies.

Project Objectives

The objective of the project is basic research on the thermal activation of cross-laminated timber. To this end, material properties such as thermal conductivity and oven-dry density of different wood species will be determined at laboratory scale. Building on this, suitable component assemblies will be developed and analyzed using numerical simulations. A prototype will be tested under real-world conditions. The findings will be shared with companies through workshops.

Results

The study provides the first robust data on the suitability of solid wood for component activation. It shows which material combinations and assembly variants enable efficient heat distribution. The results form the basis for future applications in new construction and renovation and open up new perspectives for using wood in building services engineering.