– Unacceptable that they tamper with the lights – Greater Oslo

– It is completely unacceptable for overnight guests to tamper with the sensors. Clear speech from Oslobygg. They own the 45 schools that Norway Cup has borrowed for the football tournament. But Norway Cup have not been completely satisfied with the offer they have received. At three of the schools, the lights are connected to the fire systems. These lights cannot be turned off at night. Therefore, over 1,000 young footballers have to sleep with the light on. If someone switches off the lights, it will affect the safety of the children sleeping there. SLEEPING AT SCHOOL: The gymnasium Martin Hauge sleeps in is underground. If the emergency lights are switched off, it will be pitch black here and Oslybygg fears the young people will not be able to get out in the event of a fire. Hauge therefore sleeps with a sleeping mask. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Has tampered with the lights – and fire safety Problems with the lights are not new. Also last year, several footballers had to sleep in schools where the lights could not be turned off. Now it emerges that overnight guests have disconnected and covered the sensors in previous years to get night darkness. – One should not disconnect anything, says department manager in Oslobygg, Trond Ottersen. Ottersen says that the safety of those who spend the night at the school becomes worse if the sensors are covered or disconnected. OSLOBYGG: Trond Ottersen in Oslobygg says it is important that the lights and fire safety are not tampered with. Photo: Oslobygg He is particularly worried since the schools this week are packed with sleeping children who have never been in these buildings before. The youngest are ten years old. UNDERGROUND: If a fire starts and the guide lights don’t work, it is very unfortunate to have many children and young people crammed into a room under the ground filled with mattresses and luggage, says Oslobygg. Photo: Nadir Alam / news Children and young people from 30 different nations are gathered at the various schools. – Many may not speak Norwegian and cannot read the fire instructions on the walls. At least not if it’s pitch dark. Ottesen emphasizes that the schools are not intended for accommodation. When the Norway Cup has nevertheless been allowed to use the buildings for accommodation, they have to follow the rules. A RECORD NUMBER OF CHILDREN: This year, 30,000 children and young people from all over the world are taking part in the Norway Cup. 13,000 of these sleep in schools Norway Cup can borrow from Oslobygg. Photo: Frode Fjerdingstad / news – Have themselves chosen the schools they complain about The municipality has gone through all the schools they own, and has suggested the schools that are best suited for use for accommodation during the Norway Cup. – We have given them a list of 79 suitable schools, and they have themselves chosen the schools they complain about. Ottersen is therefore surprised that Norway Cup, after choosing the schools themselves, criticizes precisely the schools they have chosen. – It is strange that they are dissatisfied. Norway Cup replies that they had no other choice than these 45 schools because the other schools are too small, so the children cannot sleep together. FRYSTIKKALLEEN SCHOOL: This school is one of the three schools with lights connected to the fire protection. Norway borrowed it last year, and chose to use it this year as well. Photo: Hallgeir Braastad / news Norway Cup takes a step back Chairman of the Norway Cup, Øystein Sundelin, understands that those who sleep with the light on become frustrated. – Sleep is very important when you are going to play a football tournament, says chairman of the Norway Cup, Øystein Sundelin. TAKING ACTION: Chairman of the Norway Cup, Øystein Sundelin, says he understands the frustration, but that they are now asking their participants not to tamper with the lights even if it affects their night’s sleep. Photo: Hallgeri Aunan But the chairman also understands Oslobygg’s point that the children’s fire safety becomes worse if the lights in the schools are tampered with. He asks people not to cover the sensors or disconnect the lights: – Of course, Norway Cup has not given information to those staying overnight that this can or should be done. It is important to us that nothing we do goes beyond fire safety. That’s why the lights can’t be switched off: At the three schools, there are luminous conductors made of a special material. When you shine a light on it for a while, the material will become luminescent for a period afterwards. Therefore, the lights must be turned on every two hours, also through the night, to “charge the substance”. Oslobygg says that if it starts to burn and the power goes out, this material will still glow. That way, they will be able to lead the children out of the burning school. However, if the lights are switched off or covered, these conductors will not work and the building will be completely blacked out. Hello! Do you have thoughts about the case you have read? Or tips about, for example, children and young people, culture, consumer goods or the climate? Maybe about something completely different from Greater Oslo that should be taken care of? Feel free to get in touch! Published 01.08.2024, at 07.27 Updated 01.08.2024, at 07.40



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