The Salvation Army takes fire safety seriously

The Salvation Army has invested in future-oriented solutions in its new headquarters at Ensjø in Oslo. Halogen-free cables can save lives and reduce material damage in the event of a fire in the building.

Ensjø will have a new social hub in the spring. That's when the Salvation Army's new headquarters will be completed, equipped with a church, community centre and offices for employees. An existing office building will be renovated and become the new headquarters, while a new building will be constructed with a community church and premises that house a wide range of services for the local community. The Salvation Army will focus in particular on meeting places and activities for children and young people.

- ‘The new building will have an open public area with a concert hall, café and user offices, as well as an underground gymnasium,’ says Trond Magne Hognestad Petersen. He is project manager at AF Gruppen, which is the turnkey contractor for the project. 

In total, the property will cover 5,200 square metres. The building is being developed next to Ensjø metro station, more specifically at Ensjøveien 23B. Höegh Eiendom currently owns the existing building at the address and is the developer of the project. The existing building and the new building will function as one when it is completed in spring 2025.

TEK17 requires fireproof solutions

In the Salvation Army's project, good health, safety and the environment have been high on the agenda. That's according to Frode Åsenden, general manager of Frelsesarmeens Eiendommer AS.

Fire safety has been taken particularly seriously in a building that will facilitate a high pulse and steady flow of people throughout the day.

According to the current version of the Norwegian Building Code TEK17 from the Norwegian Building Authority, fire safety must be assessed holistically in construction projects, and thus requires solutions and products that minimise fire risk and damage to people, buildings and the environment.

The greatest risk to human life in the event of fire is smoke and harmful substances released during combustion.

Emits less smoke and harmful gases

An important decision to ensure fire safety is the right choice of cables. Although cables themselves rarely cause fires, they can affect the course of the fire, the extent of the damage and the evacuation options for people in the building.

Electrical installer Elektro-Sivert has been a subcontractor in the project. Installer Hugo Roterud says that they have given a clear recommendation from the start: To use halogen-free cables.

EASY cables from Nexans were the natural choice for the project. The company is one of Norway's leading cable suppliers, and halogen-free cables have become an important focus area for the company.

- We've been using Nexans products for 30 years and have very good experience with them, says Roterud.

Cables that meet BREEAM requirements

The new head office has been designed to meet the requirements of the voluntary environmental certification BREEAM v6.0 with a rating of Very Good.

To achieve the certification, the project must comply with a number of rules and mandatory approvals for the solutions and products in the building.

- The exhaust gases and smoke generated by burning PVC cables prevent them from meeting the BREEAM requirements. Halogen-free cables, on the other hand, are listed in the Nordic Swan Ecolabelling's Building Products Portal, which means they fall within BREEAM v6.0. They also often have an environmental declaration,’ says Terje Holmen. He is responsible for purchasing at Elektro-Sivert Installasjon AS.

Reducing material damage

Approximately NOK 3.1 billion was paid out in damage compensation for fires in 2023. Less smoke and corrosive gases damaging equipment, interiors and building materials means lower costs for cleaning, repairs and new purchases. It also means less downtime for the building. Halogen-free cables have flame-retardant and self-extinguishing properties that reduce the spread of fire.

Creating added value for many years

Throughout the entire process, the Salvation Army, together with the developer and the other parties involved, has been concerned with the long-term nature and sustainability of the construction project at Ensjø. In addition to the rehabilitation of the existing office building, many parts of the building and much of the interior will be refurbished and reused.

- With future-oriented and sustainable solutions, we want the Salvation Army's new headquarters to create added value for many years to come,’ says Åsenden of Frelsesarmeens Eiendommer AS.

Hugo Roterud concludes: