Redningsselskapet is constructing sustainable buildings for the future in Horten. General contractor Betonmast invited us into the project.
The new center provides training for both seafarers, leisure boat users, as well as children and youth. "The cornerstone and vision of Redningsselskapet are to save lives, prevent, and salvage assets. The same values underlie the choices we have made in the development of our new center at Langgrunn in Horten", says Martin Fuhr Bolstad, Project Director of the Redningsselskapet.
RS NOATUN is an innovative building structure with load-bearing mass timber, energy wells in the ground, solar panels on the roof, and the use of technology for building monitoring. Can you tell us a little about the background for the choices you have made?
"Since the start of the project in 2015, architecture, material choices, and energy solutions have been carefully selected. Our vision is for the building to stand for "eternity," and at least in a hundred-year perspective. In that context, mass timber became a natural material to use, instead of concrete. For this type of landmark building, it is important to make sustainable choices to realize the project's vision", says Bolstad.
Betonmast has been the general contractor for all three building phases. Project Manager Arne Midtbø highlights the collaboration with the building owner throughout the process. - The result is a forward-looking building structure architecturally, where the goal, among other things, is to reproduce the energy used in the production of the building mass. It is inspiring to work on such projects and with partners where the use of energy-efficient materials and the right technology provide the building mass with a solid foundation for a long lifespan. In addition, there has been a significant focus on conservation in the construction process, where we aimed to achieve less than 20 kg/m2 of waste.
(Illustration: Haugen/Zohar Arkitekter)
How did Sensor Innovation become part of this development process?
"We have had good experiences from other construction projects with into® technology and the expertise of Sensor Innovation. So, it was natural for us to use their expertise for RS Noatun as well, says Midtbø. By having roof condition monitoring, it ensures the building structure against hidden moisture leaks before damage develops, so that local proactive measures can be taken if moisture becomes a challenge."
What experiences have you had so far in the construction phase with into® technology?
"We can reasonably confidently say that the roof is watertight, and we have good control of building moisture from the construction phase. By using the sensors and reports from Sensor Innovation, we have full control of deviations and drying processes in the building structure, says Midtbø. The into® Control System automatically alerted via SMS and email about two possible leakage points in the roof structure shortly after the roofs were covered. The roofer was also alerted by the system. Measures were taken shortly thereafter to prevent the building from suffering material damage and extra renovation costs."
"It is an extra reassurance to use our technology in such projects. If these leakage points had not been detected in time, the damage probably would not have been discovered for several years. Thus, the scope would have been significantly larger considering that both mass timber and roof surfaces with solar cells are used", says COO at Sensor Innovation, Tor Ove Nesset. "A renovation job would have involved removing solar panels over a larger area, replacing insulation, and a demanding drying process of the mass timber."
Anything else you want to highlight based on your experiences with Sensor Innovation?
"The company has solid technology with good reports and a simple interface. In addition, their building technical expertise is important in contexts with challenges related to moisture development in the structure", concludes Midtbø.
Sensor Innovation highly values Betonmast and the Redningsselskapet for their expertise and ability to see solutions in the process of developing buildings for the future. Also, Sensor Innovation looks forward to more collaborations in the future.