New Førde Hospital: Measures for flood protection

Climate change poses increasing risks to health infrastructure and services across Norway, particularly in regions like Helse Førde, located in Helse Vest, where geographic and climatic conditions significantly amplify the region’s exposure to climate change impacts. Norway is experiencing increased rainfall intensity and frequency, particularly in autumn and winter. Higher temperatures also cause earlier and more intense snowmelt, especially in catchment areas near Jostedalsbreen glacier and other high-altitude regions, thereby increasing the likelihood of flooding.

The Førde hospital site lies on a delta between two rivers, making it highly susceptible to flooding, particularly during the spring snowmelt and during periods with extreme rainfall. Flooding can disrupt hospital operations, damage infrastructure, and impede access to emergency services. The original hospital buildings were constructed in 1979 and were not designed to withstand today’s weather extremes.

To increase capacity and expand healthcare service offerings, an expansion of Førde hospital was planned on the existing site. As part of the planning process, a flood risk assessment was conducted. The assessment quantified the impact of 200-year and 1000-year flood events, demonstrating the need to invest in flood protection measures. In 2014, a concept design for the entire site was published. The concept design included provisions for flood protection, including physical barriers and a pumping station. In the same year, however, a 200-year flood event occurred, causing damage and disruption to hospital staff, patients, and buildings on the existing site.

Despite the damage caused by the 2014 flood and the results of the flood risk assessment, there was no legal requirement to retrofit the existing hospital buildings as flood protection measures are only required for new buildings. Due to the occurrence of the flood, however, it was discussed if flood protection measures should also apply to older building. Since flood protection measures are only required for new buildings, there was no financial support to carry out the work needed to protect the older buildings. Therefore, measures to protect the old site could only be financed as part of a wider site development plan that included the construction of new buildings and buy-in from multiple stakeholders.

In Norway, several legislative and policy documents guide land use planning and regulate risk assessments.

Building Technical Regulations

The Building Technical Regulations require that a flood risk assessment is carried out for all new development projects. The Regulation also defines safety classes and design parameters for different return periods (i.e. 100-year, 200-year, 1000-year flood events). However, the requirement for a flood risk assessment only applies to new buildings on the development site, not existing buildings.

Municipal Land Use Plan

Helse Førde’s Municipal Land Use Plan, based on the Planning and Building Act (2014), sets guidelines for land use development and investment. The Plan specifies that new development areas must put in place climate adaptation measures and emphasizes public safety in both new and existing development areas.

Municipal Land Use Plan – land-use section – Sunnfjord Municipality

Førde Hospital is located in close proximity to the convergence of two rivers and is adjacent to a designated “flood protection area”. Since the area is known to flood, it is designated as a passive flood protection area by the municipal land use plan. Development is not permitted in the passive flood protection area as it allows for seasonal flooding to pass without causing damage. However, the designated flood protection does not account for extreme events and consequently some of the older hospital buildings are located in areas potentially exposed to flooding.

The purpose of the adaptation measure was to protect both old buildings (approx. 50,000 m2) and newly constructed buildings (approx. 20,000 m2) from floods. The goal of this is to ensure service continuity, bolster emergency preparedness, and safeguard critical infrastructure.

In December 2020, the new flood protection system was completed at Førde Central Hospital. The new system is designed to protect the hospital from a 1000-year flood. The flood protection system extends around the hospital site and in total is approximately 750 meters long. It is combination of sheet piling, concrete walls, and embankments. In addition, a pumping station with four pumps was established inside the flood protection area. The pumping station has a capacity of 2 cubic meters per second. An emergency power supply for the pumping station was also established to ensure operational continuity. The emergency generator and pumps are tested regularly and the entire plant is subject to regular maintenance.

After the completion of the flood protection area in 2020, two major flood events occurred (most recently in March 2025). In both cases, the pumps started automatically, avoiding damages from flood waters.

The implementation of flood protection measures at Førde Central Hospital was supported by the hospital manager, emergency manager, and technical department. Hospital staff coordinated with technical staff from the city to prepare the flood risk assessment and conceptual designs for the new site, including the flood protection measures. The impact of the flood measures on the surrounding area was also assessed for a 200-year and 1000-year flood event. This process was also supported by the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate and Sunnfjord Municipality. Both authorities provided support in interpreting legislation and gave feedback and guidance when developing the solution.

The final design was implemented as part of the New Førde Hospital, protecting both the existing and new facilities from flood exposure.

Challenges

Issues around the hospital’s criticality and function posed a barrier to implementing the flood protection measures. Among stakeholders, there was extensive discussion as to whether the hospital should be defined as a regional hospital or not (according to the Norwegian Water Resources and Energy Directorate’s definition of regional hospital). As a result of this discussion, Førde Central Hospital was not designated as a regional hospital by the municipality’s zoning plan, which was a positive outcome for the development of the flood protection measures. This decision helped to justify investment in flood protection measures for the existing site and the new buildings.

Success

Without investing in flood protection measures, the existing buildings would have remained exposed and no further development on the hospital site would have been permitted. With the flood protection measures in place, new facilities could be developed, improving services for the community while protecting existing infrastructure. Regulatory measures, including requiring a flood risk assessment, were critical for defining the problem and designing a solution.

The flood protection measures implemented at Førde Central Hospital amounted to a total investment of approximately NOK 50 million. This investment was weighed against the costs of relocating the hospital (estimated at NOK 5 billion), costs associated with the loss of emergency services, and cost of future damages. By implementing flood protection measures, the hospital was able to expand its services and patient capacity, thereby improving services in the local community. Moreover, hospital infrastructure is protected from future floods, ensuring continuity of services during disasters.

Estimated maintenance costs amount to NOK 1 – 2 million per year.

Planning for the hospital expansion and related flood protection measures started in 2014. All work was completed by December 2020. 

With regular service and maintenance, the lifespan of the flood protection measures can be extended in line with the need to keep it operational.

Kjell Inge Solhaug

kjell.inge.solhaug@helse-forde.no

Project director, New Førde Hospital