A Stylish New School: Fibo Panels Make Their Mark at Lørenskog Upper Secondary School
Lørenskog Upper Secondary School has recently unveiled a new building, designed to provide a modern and forward-thinking learning environment where both quality and aesthetics are at the forefront. A central feature of the interior is the use of Fibo wall panels, which combine practicality and style, making them ideal for a school that requires both durability and easy maintenance.
A Major Project with Clear Objectives
Akershus County Municipality led the development, allocating a budget of around NOK 150 million. Construction began in December 2023 on what was previously an empty car park. By December 2024, the new building was completed, with the entire project set to finish by August 2025. To keep up with the demanding schedule, as many as 150 workers were involved at peak times.
Project manager Bård Ingeberg and site manager Petter Navarsete were instrumental in the project’s success. Both brought significant experience from large-scale construction projects and maintained high standards when it came to choosing materials and suppliers.
The Obvious Choice for Wet Areas
For bathrooms, toilets, and changing rooms, Fibo’s bathroom panels were selected. These panels have proven to be both straightforward to install and extremely robust. Ingeberg shared his own experience, noting that he installed Fibo panels in his own home, built in 1984, and they are still in excellent condition today, which speaks volumes about their quality.
Three Colours, One Cohesive Design
The new school building features three different Fibo finishes: Light Sand, Warm Grey, and Dusty Blue. This palette creates a warm yet contemporary look, giving the rooms a welcoming atmosphere. Dusty Blue has been especially popular, also being used in related projects such as the growth room building, where a consistent visual theme was desired to reinforce the school’s identity.
A Practical and Long-Lasting Solution for Schools
School buildings require surface materials that can withstand heavy use, are easy to clean, and retain their appearance over time. Fibo wall panels excel in these areas. They are completely waterproof and have a tough surface that is well suited to the demands of a school environment.
Petter Navarsete highlighted the importance of having solutions that remain attractive and require minimal upkeep for those responsible for the building in the years ahead. He noted that Fibo meets all these requirements.
A Flagship for the Future
When Lørenskog Upper Secondary School is fully completed in autumn 2025, it will stand not only as a new educational facility but also as a flagship example of how modern material choices can successfully blend aesthetics, functionality, and sustainability. The consistent use of Fibo panels throughout the building demonstrates how the right materials can deliver both practical and visual advantages.
Transform Your Projects with Fibo
Discover how Fibo’s innovative wall panels can elevate your projects. Call us at 01494 771242 or email us at sales@fibo.co.uk to learn more.
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FAQ
Fibo panels are easy to fit and you can certainly do this yourself if you have capable DIY skills and are confident with using standard woodworking tools. Fitting instructions are included with the panels or can be downloaded from our website. If you are not confident in your ability, however, any competent professional tradesperson can be employed.
We would always recommend fixing Fibo panels to the walls using wooden battens, screwing through the tongue of the Aqualock on our 600mm and 900mm wide panels.
We recommend to use 3x35mm countersunk screws for wood or 3.5x45mm screws for metal stud walls. However, panels can also be glued to the walls or over existing tiles if they are sound and straight using a high tensile strength waterproof adhesive. Where possible, however, additional mechanical fixing is always preferable.
Please refer to our fitting instructions provided with the panels or available for download from our website: https://fibo.co.uk/install-fibo/fibo-installation-instructions/
We recommend using a high tensile strength waterproof adhesive such as Fibo Adhesive. Our 290ml tube should be able to cover three 600mm panels.
To ensure waterproof results, use our 290ml Fibo Seal sealant. Fibo Seal is specially developed for our panels and is ETAG 022 approved. It is also supplied in the same colours as the joints on the panels (grey and white). Do not use silicone, only MS polymer sealant approved according to SINTEF TG 2289.
Fibo panels should be kept dry and not be leaned against walls, stored vertically or balanced upon trestles but should be laid flat and, if stored in very cold conditions, should be acclimatised at room temperatures for 3 days prior to fitting. It is important that the panels being a wood based product are at the right temperature when installing.
Yes, Fibo panels can be fitted directly onto existing tiles or to plasterboard walls. We would always recommend mechanical fixing, using screws, in the first instance. However, should this not be possible or practical and, provided your walls are sound and straight, you can use just the adhesive to fix Fibo panels to the wall.
We recommend the use of a product called COLORFILL (Unika) which is an acrylic gap filler and sealant and can be used to repair small chips or minor scratches in the laminate of the boards. For scratches, we advise you to use a small amount and smooth over the scratch.
It comes in a range of colours which can be matched to the colour of your panel. A list of nearest Colorfill match to common Fibo decors can be viewed here.
Colorfill can be purchased directly from their website or DIY shops.
Yes of course. Please email our offices: sales@fibo.co.uk, stating which designs you are interested in.
Fibo wall panels have a spread of flame according to test program NS-EN 13501-1:2007+A1:2009 Fire Certificate : D-s1.d0.
Fibo panels are constructed using 9mm exterior grade layered plywood and, providing all exposed plywood edges are fully sealed with a recommended polymer sealant and fitted correctly according to the manufacturer’s instructions, our panels are guaranteed fully waterproof.
Fibo offers customers a 25 year warranty that our Product will not delaminate, stain, fade or crack during the Warranty Period as a result of defects in materials and/or manufacture of the Product, when properly installed in accordance with Fibo’s installation instructions and cared for in accordance with Fibo’s instructions for “Cleaning and Maintenance” or Product Guide and Handbooks. The warranty does not cover items such as sealant or profiles/trims. Fibo Product Warranty certificate 2021
A base profile should be used when installing in wet areas to prevent water damage occurring and, although the Fibo core material is water resistant WBP plywood, all joints and cut edges and areas around baths or shower trays must be sealed properly using our manufacturers’ recommended hybrid polymer sealant to make the panels fully waterproof. The guarantee may be invalid if this is not carried out.
Our guarantee does not cover faulty installation, accidental damage or misuse, structural movement or incorrect maintenance and storage including the use of inappropriate cleaning materials such as bleach or abrasives.
The guarantee does not cover the use of 1200mm panels joined together with an H-shaped stacking profile on a run along a wall. This method of installation will not be fully watertight and the 600mm and 900mm panels with the Aqualock tongue & groove join are specifically designed for this purpose.
Please ensure that the panels are checked thoroughly, prior to fitting, for any damage, defects or flaws in the laminate and colour shading. If the panels are to be installed by a third party tradesperson, the colour should first be approved by the homeowner or end user. Where possible the panels should be dry fitted to check how they look prior to permanent installation.
This guarantee does not confer any rights other than those shown above. Claims for indirect and consequential loss or damage are specifically excluded. This guarantee does not affect your statutory rights as a consumer.
Yes you can. Heavy items such as washbasins or towel rails should always have additional battens behind the panel.
Fibo is sold by the panel and you can calculate how many panels you need to cover your area if you have measured this in square metres. Use the following calculation:
For 600mm wide panels – divide your square metre measurement by 1.488 and round up.
For 900mm wide panels – divide your square metre measurement by 2.208 and round up.
The 600mm and 900mm panels are the ideal size of panel to clad your entire room as they have our Aqualock tongue and groove system for perfect invisible joints. We do NOT recommend using a 1200mm straight edged panel (not Aqualocked) to go on a run around the room using an H-shaped profile.
The 1200mm panels are not designed for this purpose as the installation will not be guaranteed watertight. 1200mm panels are specifically intended to be installed as one wall – one panel, in shower areas. Our guarantee, therefore, does not cover 1200mm panels fitted any other way.
Fibo panels are very easy to clean. Clean on a regular basis with just a wipe down using a soft cloth with soap and water or a non-abrasive liquid cleaner. Do not use the shower clean “wash & go” products or limescale removers on the panels as the acidic content of some of these products can cause damage or discoloration over time. Do not allow bleach, abrasive cleaners, paint stripper, nail varnish, spirits or toilet cleaners to come into contact with the panels.
The sealant should also be cleaned often to prevent mould growth. If using silicone sealant, which is not recommended, regular checks of exposed sealant are necessary and this should be replaced if required. This should not be needed, however, if using a permanent polymer sealant as recommended. Steam cleaning machines are not suitable for use with Fibo panels.
We have an H-shaped 2 part profile available for this purpose. It enables you to stack panels on top of each other for higher than normal rooms. Some of our decors are available in a height of 3.02m as a special order. Please enquire with the Sales office.
Yes, we have a specific Kitchen Splashback range. All panels are 600mm wide, and are offered in both 580mm heights for above the worktop, and 900mm heights for above the hob.
No, Fibo panels are for wall use only.
We do not recommend installers to fit Fibo wall panels horizontally. The Fibo warranty only covers wall panels which are installed vertically.
We recommend to use 3x35mm countersunk screws for wood or 3.5x45mm screws for metal stud walls.