Name of service (page headline, shown in promos – maximum of 70 characters incl. spaces):Universal Design in the Community Building processLead (include SEO-words and the main benefits for your target groups. Stick to one paragraph, maximum 2-3 sentences):
RISE offers the Universal Design service in accordance with the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. The service is a process-driven approach that is based on seeing the needs of actors with regard to different forms of accessibility within the framework of the community building process.
Purpose/Benefit:
Universal design (Design for All Approach) is a way to add a clearer perspective of inclusion in the community building process. The aim is that owners of needs with different individual requirements should be involved as early as possible, through the entire process via design solutions in the form of services and products that meet the needs. Universal design is as much about social and experience-based inclusion as physical, it must not only be possible to enter and use an environment, it must also be experienced as safe and inviting. Co-creative initiatives with the support of universal design do not only apply to people with disabilities, but can also involve other groups in need of different support functions, e.g. groups in particularly vulnerable situations or positions.
Method (what/which methods are used to perform the service):
RISE can support authorities (municipalities, regions, etc.) and private actors (centre owners, property owners and managers, etc.) in their work with accessibility issues. Above all, it is about highlighting universal challenge opportunities that can be attributed to the following factors:
Organization – Management functions with division of responsibility and authority
Collaboration – Collaboration between parties within an organization and with external actors
Governance – Spaces for action based on horizontal forms of cooperation between actors.
Planning – Integration of universal design into the planning process via governing documents
Involvement – Operational design efforts with users (people with disabilities)
Design – Development and testing of type solutions, design principles and working methods
Delivery (what does the client get after performed service – e.g. a report, certificate etc.):
RISE's role is partly to act as a guide in process control and various specialist areas, and partly to make evidence-based, qualitative analyzes and design solutions. We who are engaged in universal design represent a broad field of knowledge and network that spans from relevant specialist expertise to research-based competence.
RISE erbjuder designlösningar i form av tjänster, funktioner och produkter såsom:
Fungerande boende – bostad och närmiljö
Tillgänglig social livsmiljö – träffas, utbyta erfarenheter, ingå i sammanhang
Hållbart arbetsliv – motiverande bidrag och gemenskap på lika villkor
Fysisk tillgänglighet – tryggt kunna förflytta sig, vistas och använda inne- och utemiljöer.
Area: Construction Design Infrastructure Mobility Built environment Urban development System innovation Service innovationContact person (Enter one name per field. Activated personal contact pages will appear automatically): Björn Hellström, Forskare Katarina Borg, Projektledare
Field measurements:NoPrice type:1Division:Do not use - Division Built EnvironmentPreparation:No preparation requiredCertification and marking:Not applicableType of service:Not applicableInstrument:Not applicableGeneral area:Not applicableDelivery level:Not applicable
bjorn.hellstrom@ri.se,katarina.borg@ri.se
/en/node/9710
3. Good health and well-being
5. Gender equality
10. Reduced inequalities
11. Sustainable cities and communities
Purpose - Header:PurposeMetod - Header:MethodDelivery - Header:LeveransMore information - Header:Mer information
Jorden blir varmare. Samtidigt som utsläppen av växthusgaser behöver minska måste vi också anpassa oss till ett förändrat klimat. När temperaturer, nederbörd och havsnivåer ökar gäller det att skydda samhället och våra byggnader för de utmaningar vi står inför. Bara översvämningar hotar enligt Riksbanken (2020) bostäder med ett samlat värde på mellan 96 och 160 miljarder kronor i Sverige.*
EU:s nya regelverk med bland annat CSRD och Taxonomin underlättar för banker och andra investerare att placeras sina pengar hållbart. De ger också bland annat fastighetsbolag krav på rapportering och ökar behovet av kunskap på fastighetsnivå.
RISE kan bidra med forskningsbaserade underlag åt fastighetsägare, banker, försäkringsbolag med flera för att identifiera vilka byggnader som är mer sårbara än andra. Idag saknas lättillgängliga data för dessa bedömningar. Här arbetar RISE tillsammans med flertalet bank- och försäkringsbolag med att forma ett första screeningverktyg för att kunna bedöma sårbarhet i byggnader. Men vi har redan nu kommit en bra bit och åtar oss uppdrag inom området.
Vi kan hjälpa fastighetsägare att minska risken för skador orsakade av extremväder. Att investera i förebyggande insatser för din fastighet kan löna sig mycket på lång sikt. Men vi kan också hjälpa till när skadan reden skett.
RISE erbjudande inom klimatanpassning för fastigheter
RISE erbjuder forskningsbaserat stöd och kunskap till fastighetsägare, banker och försäkringsbolag. Vi erbjuder stöd i strategiskt arbete, utbildningar, utredning och analys, test och verifiering samt konsultation.
Expertstöd och specialutredningar efter skador vid extremväder
I kölvattnet av ökad nederbörd, översvämningar och torka kan det uppstå situationer som är mer eller mindre akuta. Det kan vara skador, olyckor eller naturkatastrofer - situationer som sedermera landar i rättegångar, tvister och specialutredningar. Dessa processer kräver ofta en djupgående spetskompetens – ibland flera.
RISE erbjuder oberoende expertis inom en rad specialiserade områden, inklusive brand, betong, fuktproblematik, ventilation och akustik. Våra erfarna seniora specialister kan genomföra noggranna utredningar, tredjepartsgranskningar och kommunikationsinsatser ofta med kort varsel.
Vårt team bistår vid akuta situationer där djupgående och opartisk analys är avgörande för att skapa klarhet och hjälpa till att lösa komplexa problem.
Exempel på specialutredningar:
Katastrofer: Vi genomför utredningar vid brand, översvämningar, jordskred och andra katastrofer för att fastställa orsaker och konsekvenser.
Rättegångar och tvister: Vårt expertstöd används ofta i rättsliga tvister där teknisk och oberoende kompetens och analys är avgörande.
Brådskande kommunikationsinsatser: Vi förmedlar, föreläser och sprider relevant och vetenskapligt grundad information i situationer där oro och osäkerhet råder, t ex i samband med katastrofer eller andra miljöexponeringar.
Sårbarhet och klimatanpassning av byggnader och byggnadsdelar inkl. byggprodukter
Våra experter har lång erfarenhet av forskning och utredningar inom skador på byggnader orsakade av extremt väder. Därför har vi även god uppfattning om vilka åtgärder som lämpar sig för att förebygga skador från de olika väderrelaterade händelserna som en byggnad kan utsättas för. Likaså har vi god kännedom om aktuella lagar, byggregler och standarder som påverkar befintlig och ny byggnation med hänseende på extremväder och klimatanpassning. Som ackrediterat laboratorium genomför vi även omfattande provning av byggprodukter.
Vi kan därför bistå med:
Utbildningstillfällen och föreläsningar om byggnaders sårbarhet och klimatanpassning.
Vi genomför test och provning av byggprodukter, vilket kan anpassas för motsvarande extremväder i vårt labb, till exempel :
-Vindlast
-Regnlast
-Sol -klimatbeständighet
Är ni intresserade av att själva bedöma vilken sårbarhet er fastighet har för extremväder som skyfall, storm, övertemperatur eller hagel? Vi erbjuder en kostnadsfri sårbarhetsanalys för dessa extremväder. Fyll i din mejladress i formuläret här nedan så får du tillgång till en Excelfil som ger ett övergripande svar per extremväder. En fördjupad analys av era fastigheters sårbarhet inklusive klimatanpassningsförslag kan erbjudas vid efterfrågad offert (gäller ej privatpersoner). Den fördjupade analysen kan med fördel utnyttjas i samband med redovisning enligt taxonomin.
Fyll i dina kontaktuppgifter för en kostnadsfri sårbarhetsanalys
New empirical research field: Neurodesign & Neuroarchitecture.
By combining brain research and AI with architecture and design, we understand more about how our living environments should be designed to support human, ecological and economic sustainability.
The field is being established through research projects and in collaboration with academia, the public sector and industry players.
Completed
Design
Not applicable
NeuroArchitecture & NeuroDesign is intended to be established both nationally and internationally, and scaled up over time.
The field is being established through research projects and in collaboration with academia, the public sector and industry.
By combining brain science and AI with architecture and design, we can better understand how our living environments should be designed to support human, environmental and economic sustainability.
At a time of complex global challenges, RISE and UCL (University College London) are pioneering a new discipline - Neuroarchitecture & Neurodesign - that combines brain research and innovative technologies with architecture and design to reshape the environments in which we live.
By unlocking the physical, structural and psychological factors that influence human wellbeing, we aim to create built environments that promote health, build resilience and support the UN's global goals for human, economic and environmental sustainability.
RISE and UCL have established the world's first international centre for Neuroarchitecture & Neurodesign, working with industry and world-leading researchers on a global scale. By integrating neuroscience and AI with architecture and design, we aim to drive a global shift towards environments that are not only sustainable, but also optimise human potential, quality of life and well-being - for planetary intelligence!
RISE and UCL have initiated a research collaboration, supported by bilateral agreements between Sweden and the UK, to build global knowledge in an international context based on the UN Global Goals.
Through foresight methods, the project have developed Halland's future public spaces. Focusing on blue-green structures in Varberg and mobility in Halmstad, different actors are engaged to create visions for the year 2049.
The project aimed to teach and practise foresight methods for urban development on strategic sites in Varberg and Halmstad. The selected sites in Varberg include public spaces near the sea with a focus on blue-green structures, while the development in Halmstad focuses on mobility in a new neighbourhood. To create long-term and sustainable visions, target groups within the so-called square dome model (public sector, business, academia and civil society) participated in workshops that both train them in the use of methods and provide support to those responsible for each site.
Fredblads Architects will create illustrative future images describing what these three places could look like in 2049, based on insights and suggestions from the workshops. The project was also supported by student groups from different universities who developed into specific aspects of each case.
The project consortium consisted of Varberg and Halmstad municipalities, Halmstad University, Fredblads Arkitekter, Varbergs Fastighets AB, Vivab, Alexandersonsinstitutet and Coompanion Halland. In addition to these actors, associations, property owners, Region Halland and Hallandstrafiken was also invited to some parts of the project's activities.
The project was funded from Vinnova/ShiftSweden and Region Halland. The project started 1 November 2024 and reported to ShiftSweden on 30 September 2025 and to Region Halland on 19 December 2025.
With innovative phase changing and thermo-chemical materials, ThumbsUp is developing innovative thermal energy storage technologies that can easily be integrated into buildings to increase their energy efficiency and grid flexibility on a daily and weekly basis.
The ThumbsUp project aims to develop and demonstrate thermal energy storage (TES) at daily (based on PCM) and weekly level (based on TCM sorption technology) solutions to be easily integrate in EU buildings (both connected and not-connected to DHN) to increase their energy efficiency as well as to exploit power-to-heat approaches also to make EU Buildings as grid flexibility actors.
By storing energy, buildings become more energy-efficient and flexible, as the energy storage is charged when there is a surplus of energy and prices are low, and then used when the energy supply is limited.
Demo sites - From Lab to Life
The project aims to bring its FractLES and SorTTES solutions from the laboratory to real-life applications through a structured approach of validation, demonstration, replication.
The pilot sites complement each other by covering a range of climates and building scenarios within the EU. They provide a comprehensive picture of how TES technologies can be applied across the EU, addressing different energy needs and contributing to the EU’s sustainable economy goals. They also offer diverse insights into the scalability and replicability of TES solutions in various European contexts.
HSB Living Lab, Gothenburg, Sweden - Multi Family Building
Valladolid, Spain - Single Family Building
Valladolid, Spain - Multi Family Building
Knowledge Exchange Forum
The knowledge exchange forums are interactive meetings during which a series of subjects are presented and discussed among the participants. These sessions will not only allow engaged stakeholders to directly exchange with each-other, but also learn about the latest project breakthroughs and create a network for crowd-sourcing solutions to challenges we will eventually face throughout the development of the project.
Each session focuses on different topics and begins with a presentation by a guest expert involved in the project, followed by an interactive dialogue with the participants.
When you register, you will automatically receive invitations to all sessions. You can choose the topics that interest you and participate when it suits you. Register here.
Name of service (page headline, shown in promos – maximum of 70 characters incl. spaces):Radon testing in buildingsLead (include SEO-words and the main benefits for your target groups. Stick to one paragraph, maximum 2-3 sentences):
Long-term exposure to radon gas increases the risk of developing lung cancer. The Swedish Radiation Safety Authority estimates that radon in homes causes about 500 cases of lung cancer each year in Sweden. Radon can enter buildings from the ground, building materials or tap water. The only way to detect radon is to measure it.
Purpose/Benefit:
By methodically inventorying and investigating the building in question, we can use our experience and measuring instruments to find sources of radon in indoor air.
Benefit
Radon gas is invisible and odourless, the only way to detect radon is by measuring and finding sources of radon in indoor air. With the help of a good investigation, it is possible to implement the right measures and ensure that indoor radon levels are below the regulatory requirements.
Method (what/which methods are used to perform the service):
The building in question is inventoried and analysed for radon sources from soil and possibly water, but radon-emitting building materials may also be present. Some of the work is also carried out in the office, for example when reviewing drawings or making calculations.
Delivery (what does the client get after performed service – e.g. a report, certificate etc.):
The client receives a report with documentation and recommendations for action according to the purpose and scope of the assignment.
Delivery time:
Time for implementation and delivery of assignments as agreed.
Name of service (page headline, shown in promos – maximum of 70 characters incl. spaces):Moisture damage survey of building structuresLead (include SEO-words and the main benefits for your target groups. Stick to one paragraph, maximum 2-3 sentences):
The structural design and stability of the structure shall not be affected by the system or the design of the structure itself, such as the frame, foundation, roof or walls. RISE may make any or all of the following interpretations that may be necessary to prevent damage or to ensure that no damage occurs.
Purpose/Benefit:
RISE's moisture experts provide the client with data on the condition of the building structures in terms of moisture and the indoor environment, which can form the basis of proposed measures or causes of damage in the event of a dispute, for example.
Benefit
Harmful moisture is rarely or never visible to the eyes, and moisture damage can be costly to repair. It can also adversely affect the health of occupants or the physical properties of materials, with potentially serious consequences. It is therefore important that the right research is carried out and that it is carried out by experts.
Method (what/which methods are used to perform the service):
A damp proof building solution is a sustainable building structure. With our knowledge, experience and close teamwork, we can carry out the job in the best possible way. The work/investigation may be carried out on site in the building in question, or it may be carried out in our modern laboratory environment. Some of the damage investigation work can also be carried out in the office, for example, reviewing, assessing and compiling drawings. It is not uncommon for the investigation to need to be supplemented by relevant sampling, measurement and analysis of the building material in the laboratory or in the field.
Delivery (what does the client get after performed service – e.g. a report, certificate etc.):
As a client you will receives a final report containing relevant data and documentation according to the purpose and scope of the assignment.
Delivery time:
Time for implementation and delivery of assignments as agreed.
Name of service (page headline, shown in promos – maximum of 70 characters incl. spaces):Moisture expertsLead (include SEO-words and the main benefits for your target groups. Stick to one paragraph, maximum 2-3 sentences):
Moisture experts at RISE are involved in all or part of the construction process as a support to the developer or contractor to ensure the quality of moisture safety work (ByggaF). RISE conducts research and develops tools for ByggaF to better verify and analyse the moisture safety of structures and materials. The staff are area specialists.
Purpose/Benefit:
Moisture experts at RISE provide you with support and the opportunity to achieve the project's requirements (at least at the level of regulatory requirements and building regulations). We are Swedaq-accredited and always objective in our work and material neutral.
Benefit
Faults and shortcomings in the construction industry cost companies, customers and society many billions of kronor annually, and many of the deficiencies are directly linked to moisture safety and the indoor environment. With the right knowledge, experience and methodology, many of these deficiencies can be avoided. A moisture-proof building is a sustainable building. By setting clear requirements at the programme stage, many unnecessary questions and investigations are avoided during the design stage. In the construction phase, unplanned changes are limited by late detection of faults. When it is time to hand over the finished building, well-executed moisture expert work has created the conditions for compliance between the expected result and the constructed building.
Method (what/which methods are used to perform the service):
With our knowledge, experience and close cooperation with colleagues, we carry out the assignment in the best way and with the help of the ByggaF system. RISE has been involved in developing ByggaF and the Diploma in Moisture Expertise training course (we also train moisture experts within the FuktCentrum) The service includes developing a moisture safety description, setting requirements for verification of functional requirements, reviewing construction documents and conducting moisture surveys on site. Some of the work is carried out from the office, for example when reviewing drawings, and some of the work is carried out on site, for example during technical verification.
Delivery (what does the client get after performed service – e.g. a report, certificate etc.):
The client receives relevant documentation according to the purpose and scope of the engagement. For example, statements and reports for audit and verification.
Delivery time:
Time for implementation and delivery of assignments as agreed.
The construction industry currently accounts for 50 percent of all resource use globally.* In the coming years, increased regulations and requirements will increase the market's need for sustainable building products and systems. As a player in the construction industry, it is important to understand the change and to find ways to move from a linear business logic to becoming a player in a circular value chain. For this, RISE offers expert advice and process development from climate-smart raw material selection and design support to material development, quality assurance and certification of building products and systems.
The fact that the construction industry accounts for 20 percent of Sweden's climate emissions has been known for a long time. The transition to more circular value chains can have a major positive impact on the construction industry, which can then contribute to resources being kept in a cycle for a longer period of time.
In a linear system, raw material is produced and then processed into a material, a material that is combined and refined into a product. The product is used and later becomes waste. In a circular system, on the other hand, this waste is reused, restored, upgraded or recycled, thus creating a circular flow.
Government and the construction and real estate sector work in different ways to reduce climate impact both during the construction phase and during a building's lifetime. As a manufacturer of building products or building systems, you need to understand what the change means for you and your company. Both upcoming and current directives such as the Sustainability Reporting Directive (CSRD), the update of the Construction Products Regulation (CPR) and the ESPR Ecodesign for Sustainable Products Regulation with the inclusive DPP (digital product passport) are expected to set requirements for reused products, resource use and traceability.
Demand for circular building products is expected to increase
The demand for products with a low climate impact is expected to increase among industry players in the coming years, and among consultants it is perceived as very difficult to find recycled materials for project assignments. Among the clients, there is a greater commitment to sustainable construction, which is partly driven by the taxonomy regulation, which aims to steer financing to so-called green activities.
The key is to identify the right opportunities and business models to contribute to a circular value chain. Manufacturers of building products and systems that adapt their business model early on will have a competitive advantage in the new market that is created as a result of increased demands for sustainability and resource efficiency.
RISE offers broad and deep knowledge – and progress
At RISE, we have both deep and broad knowledge throughout the value chain: from climate-smart raw material selection to quality-assured circular product design or verified reuse elements. We support your company in the transition process by optimising building products for both assembly and dismantling. We also work with digital twins and digital product passports, which makes it easier when developing a circular business. All within the same organization – which makes the process both efficient and quality-assured.
We help you with expert knowledge, analyses and accepted testing, as well as coordinating and managing your project – from raw material extraction and inventory, through product manufacturing, construction phase and use, until the product or system can be reused or recycled
Expert advice
With our collective expertise in the entire value chain from raw material extraction or material inventory to certified reuse element, we provide you with expert advice that lays the foundation for your circular building product.
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Material Inventory
We help you identify and utilise building materials with a high reuse potential, based on the building's history and building physical conditions.
We have expertise in material recycling and collaborate to develop building products with a proportion of recycled materials to increase the circularity of the products.
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Collaborate with others – become a member of the Circular Business Lab at RISE
As a member of the Circular Business Lab, you as a company management get the opportunity to develop circular business opportunities and future-proof your business. You do it together with other members and with close access to RISE's entire expertise in circular business models, digitalization and circular resource flows.
Are you curious about how you can switch to a circular business?
Johan Bergström, Project Manager in Sustainable Construction
Book a free consultation with one of us
We support construction companies and other actors in the construction sector who are already working with circular products or systems or want to replace an existing material with a more sustainable alternative.
Peter Lidén, researcher and project manager in sustainable construction
Regardless of the size of your business, we offer expertise along the entire value chain. With us, you can get help with one-off efforts, get support along the entire development chain, or participate in one of our research projects.
Many Swedish buildings were built in a different era. Today, extreme weather conditions are becoming more frequent. This puts new stresses on buildings that can be difficult to withstand. But who is responsible for preventing damage and protecting buildings? The answer is not simple.
– For example, in the event of a major flood, property owners sometimes feel that it is the municipality that has failed to take responsibility. However, it is the property owner who should be protecting themselves against the climate risks in question, says Stina Stenquist from RISE.
När temperaturer, nederbörd och havsnivåer fortsätter att öka gäller det att våra fastigheter är rustade att stå emot påfrestningarna. I nybyggnationer ingår detta numera som en naturlig del, men för befintliga fastigheter är det ett annat läge. Vilket inte är så konstigt, menar Stina Stenquist, projektledare på RISE.
– När de byggdes var det helt andra omständigheter, och därmed tog man hänsyn till de risknivåer som var aktuella vid den tiden. Nu ser det annorlunda ut, och därmed krävs en anpassning, säger hon.
As temperatures, precipitation and sea levels continue to rise, it is important that our properties are built to withstand the stresses. This is now a natural part of new construction, but it's a different story for existing properties. This is not surprising, says Stina Stenquist, project manager at RISE.
– When they were built, the circumstances were completely different, and so the risk levels that were relevant at the time were taken into account. The situation is different now, so we need to adapt, she says.
Adaptation of existing buildings is lagging behind
However, work on the adaptation of existing buildings is lagging behind, she notes. – Too often we see that they don't start until something happens. By then it is too late. This is unfortunate for a number of reasons: firstly, it is likely to affect a number of people personally. Secondly, it is usually much cheaper to prevent damage than to repair it once it has occurred.
In addition, the EU taxonomy and CSRD need to be taken into account for companies that have to report under these systems, such as large property companies. According to Moa Hamré, also project manager at RISE.
– These reporting systems are designed to make it easier for fund managers and other investors who want to invest their money in a sustainable way, for example by allowing real estate companies to demonstrate how climate-friendly they are. As a reporting real estate company, you have to carry out climate and vulnerability analyses with corresponding proposals for action, she says.
The property owner is responsible
There are several reasons why the work has not progressed as far as Stina Stenquist and Moa Hamré would like. One is that many property owners are not aware of their responsibilities when it comes to reducing vulnerability and adapting their properties to the risks that climate change may bring.
– For example, in the event of a major flood, property owners sometimes feel that it is the municipality that has failed in its responsibilities - when in fact it is the property owner who should be protecting themselves against the relevant climate risks. This is clearly stated in the national climate adaptation strategy, says Stina Stenquist. It is therefore important to work preventively, systematically identifying risks and planning concrete measures to address them.
– There is a clear need to raise awareness of the responsibilities of property owners. This includes taking the necessary measures to protect their property from, for example, floods, extreme heat, landslides and erosion. But responsibility also includes repairing damage to buildings and land when necessary, says Moa Hamré.
Her advice to property owners is to do as much as they can themselves. At the same time, she says, it will not be possible to protect against all climate risks within one's own property boundaries. This is one of the challenges: the need to work together to adapt to climate change.
– Depending on the circumstances and the measures involved, cooperation may be needed between, for example, property owners, the local authority and the water company. Insurance companies can also play an active role in such a project, she says.
There is a clear need to raise awareness of the responsibilities of property owners
Moa Hamré, Project manager RISE
Identifying properties at risk
So there are good reasons for accelerating work, but also challenges. RISE has taken this into account and is working on risk analysis and climate adaptation planning in several ways.
– One important step is to identify which properties are considered more vulnerable than others. There are good opportunities to do this and we are working on a standardised form to report this. This knowledge could then be communicated through a climate resilience declaration, says Stina Stenquist. RISE also has departments for testing new solutions and can provide expert analysis of what needs to be done if a property is affected by extreme weather.
Extract from the legal framework for adaptation to climate change
The division of responsibilities is formulated in the National Strategy and Action Plan for Adaptation to Climate Change:
"The responsibility for preventing and repairing damage caused by extreme weather events is no different from the responsibility for other risk assessment, emergency preparedness and crisis management in society. The basic principle is that the responsibility for protecting property rests primarily with the property owner. This applies to all property owners, both individuals and companies and public authorities".
