Concrete core activation in The Base

What is concrete core activation?

Concrete core activation (BKA) is a system in which plastic pipes are laid in the core of concrete, in De Basis they are located in the vaults. Instead of under the floor, water flows through these pipes into the concrete mass itself. Concrete acts as a thermal buffer, retaining heat in winter and remaining cool in summer by regulating the temperature in the room. In winter, warm water flows through the pipes, warming up the concrete mass and gradually releasing its heat to the room. In summer, colder water flows through the pipes, which cools the concrete and cools the room.

Heating in winter

When it is cold outside, warm water flows through the pipes into the concrete mass. The concrete mass heats up slowly and radiates this heat to the interior space. The concrete only emits heat when the room temperature is lower than the temperature of the concrete core, so the system does not waste energy by excessive reheating.

Cooling in summer

On hot days, colder water flows through the pipes. This cools the concrete vaults, which then absorb heat from the interior. This creates a cooling effect in the room.

Advantages

Concrete core activation delivers significant energy savings and provides even, comfortable temperature control without the drawbacks of traditional air-conditioning systems, such as draughts and dry air. Moreover, the system is invisible and noiseless.

Disadvantages

A major disadvantage is that concrete, the basis of this system, is not environmentally friendly due to high CO2 emissions during production. In addition, concrete core activation works slowly; it takes several hours for the concrete to absorb and release heat or cold, making rapid temperature changes difficult.