City of Kokkola
– Halkokari Comprehensive School sets an example for safe school construction
In Kokkola, school construction is carried out in accordance with the principles of sustainable development and safety. At the Halkokari comprehensive school, ATEX safety is taken into account as early as the preliminary design stage – together with energy efficiency and carbon footprint management.
“ATEX is not a separate addition, but an integral part of every design field. That is why it must be discussed right at the start of a project,” says Veli-Matti Isoaho, Head of Urban Construction at the City of Kokkola.
Why ATEX safety is relevant in school construction
In Kokkola, a significant proportion of school and daycare buildings date from the 1970s and 1980s. Their technical service life and functionality have come to an end, while the curriculum and safety requirements have been updated. In addition, the city's service network decision requires the replacement of old buildings with modern learning environments, which has triggered several new projects – Halkokari being one of them.
ATEX is a well-established part of safety thinking in industry, and in Kokkola it is now being actively incorporated into school construction – especially in science, woodworking, and metalworking classrooms, where there are real explosion hazards.
Early attention saves time and money
Taking ATEX into account during the construction phase can easily lead to additional costs and schedule delays.
“If changes have to be made to improve ATEX safety at the handover stage, costs will rise and commissioning will be delayed by weeks – even months,” Isoaho notes.
That is why Kokkola is conducting internal preparations before the design competition and drawing up detailed functional requirement models – from chemical storage to ventilation and emergency exits. This ensures that safety requirements are clear even before the first drafts are made, eliminating the need for costly changes later on.
Isoaho's message is clear: "ATEX is not expensive in itself – when it is taken into account at the right stage of the project."
ATEX – safety is also evident in space planning and operations
ATEX affects space planning and everyday activities as well as building services engineering. The city assembles microteams for projects, in which users such as principals, teachers, and early childhood education representatives work together with designers and supervisors.
“The goal is for staff to take a responsible approach – adults need to understand the risks for children and young people,” says Isoaho.
User involvement brings information about everyday school life into the design process: how teaching spaces are used, where chemicals are stored, and how access routes and emergency procedures work in practice. When these issues are identified early on, safety solutions can be seamlessly integrated into the building's operations.
Protect ATEX safety expertise to the project
When design and safety go hand in hand, you need partners with experience in proactive and practical safety design.
The city of Kokkola has a long history of cooperation with Protect in public projects. Protect's expertise is valuable because of its timely, consultative approach: defining requirements, planning support, and supervision during construction as agreed. In addition, the PRO24 system supports occupational safety and the sharing of responsibility in the project.
“Consulting is only effective when done in a timely manner – dismantling is always the most expensive solution,” reminds Pertti Salo, CEO of Protect.
According to Salo, ATEX design for projects often only reaches Protect's desk when the preliminary design is already well underway.
“HVAC, electrical, and space planning are often already well advanced, even though high-risk functions should be located in safe areas of the building as early as possible. Solar panels also bring new requirements for gas and smoke extraction on building roofs.”
School buildings are subject to many types of explosion hazards: welding fumes, wood and metal dust, and chemicals. However, modern technology offers solutions for controlling these hazards.
“For example, gas monitoring allows teachers to shut off the gas and electricity in the classroom directly from the control panel in the staff room,” Salo explains.
Learn about school construction for the future – ATEX as part of sustainable design
In Kokkola, it has been noted that user participation is crucial in the design of a safe and functional school. Most principals and early childhood education representatives only encounter a major construction project once in their careers, which is why it is important to train and involve them.
“Discussions are held well in advance so that needs and safety factors can be taken into account before planning begins. Sharing experiences between schools has increased understanding – ATEX is now seen as a natural part of construction projects,” says Isoaho.
Salo also points out that commissioning the building does not mean the end of ATEX work.
“Users and property maintenance personnel must be trained to understand ATEX safety from the perspective of use and maintenance. Everyone must have this information so that the facilities can be used as intended and safely – and so that they remain in good working order for a long time.”
Experiences from one project to another have changed the way of thinking: ATEX is now seen in Kokkola as a natural part of sustainable and responsible design that improves the safety of buildings and ensures their long-term, safe use.
A new school and daycare center is being designed for Halkokari in Kokkola, with construction scheduled to begin in 2026. Upon completion in 2028, the building will bring together early childhood education and grades 1–9 of basic education.
Ensure that ATEX requirements are taken into account in good time – read more about Protect's ATEX services.