Nødseter

Nødseter is a Norwegian term used to describe seating designated for emergency use or to facilitate evacuation in critical situations. The term appears in safety manuals, training materials, and some transport industry texts to refer to seats that must be kept accessible and unobstructed during both routine operation and emergencies.

In buses, trains, ships, and aircraft, emergency seating is typically located near exits or along escape routes. Such seats are subject to safety rules that require unobstructed access to exits, clear visibility, and often compatibility with other safety equipment. The exact requirements can vary by transport mode and by national or corporate regulations.

In practice, what is described as emergency seating can overlap with seats reserved for staff, or for passengers with mobility needs, depending on the regulatory framework and carrier policies. The terminology is somewhat specialized and may not be widely used in everyday language outside formal safety documentation. In routine Norwegian usage, more common phrases refer to emergency situations or equipment rather than to specific seats.

Etymology is generally understood as a compound relating to emergency and seating, but the precise usage of nødseter is largely confined to safety-related contexts. The concept highlights the importance of maintaining clear routes to exits and ensuring that seating arrangements do not impede rapid evacuation during emergencies.

See also: safety regulations, passenger seating, emergency equipment, evacuation planning.