Commercial Insurance in Norway

Norwegian Commercial Insurance · Corporate Risk Transfer · Business Insurance Service Line

Commercial insurance in Norway is the business service line through which companies identify, structure, place and maintain insurance for corporate exposures such as property damage, business interruption, general and product liability, cyber events, professional liability, management liability, marine and energy risks, cargo, credit and contractual project risks. It sits within the broader functions of corporate risk management, finance, procurement, legal review and business continuity.

Norwegian commercial insurance is written by authorised insurers and may be arranged directly or through an insurance agent, broker or ancillary insurance intermediary. Finanstilsynet, the Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway, supervises insurance and insurance-distribution activity. The Insurance Mediation Act and its regulations govern intermediaries, while the Financial Institutions Act provides the broader framework for insurance undertakings and foreign EEA insurers operating in Norway.

The Insurance Contracts Act, Act of 16 June 1989 no. 69, supplies the core private-law framework for non-life insurance contracts. It covers insurer information, policy documentation, renewal, policyholder disclosure, risk changes, safety regulations, claims notification and settlement. Its non-life part expressly applies to property, liability and other non-personal insurance, but excludes reinsurance and credit/surety insurance; for specified large commercial activities, several provisions may be contracted out of.

For international businesses, Norway has several particularly important characteristics: it is within the EEA insurance market but not an EU Member State; EEA insurers and brokers can enter through the applicable notification/passporting process; Norwegian brokers are generally prohibited from retaining insurer commission; and Norwegian business-sector non-life placements can in defined circumstances be brokered with non-EEA insurers. Fire insurance for Norwegian risk also engages the Norwegian Natural Perils Pool framework.

Commercial Insurance Registry
└── Jurisdictions
    └── Norway
        └── Commercial Insurance
            ├── Corporate Risk Assessment and Insurance Placement
            ├── Broker Independence and Policyholder-Funded Remuneration
            ├── Policy Information, Risk Disclosure and Safety Regulations
            ├── Claims, Renewal and Norwegian Natural Perils Context
            └── EEA Passporting and International Business-Sector Placement

Identity

Norway Commercial Insurance Corporate Risk Transfer

Object: Commercial Insurance

Object Type: Business Risk Transfer and Insurance Placement Function

Key Bodies

  • Finanstilsynet (Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway)
  • Authorised insurance brokers and insurance agents
  • Authorised Norwegian and EEA non-life insurers
  • Norsk Naturskadepool (Norwegian Natural Perils Pool)
  • Finansklagenemnda (Norwegian Financial Services Complaints Board)

Core Outcome

A bound commercial insurance policy or programme transferring defined business risks to an authorised insurer, subject to policy terms, information duties, deductibles, exclusions and applicable Norwegian mandatory-insurance arrangements.

Object Definition

Commercial insurance in Norway is the business function concerned with assessing, transferring and administering risk through insurance contracts for corporate policyholders. It includes risk analysis, broker or insurer engagement, underwriting submission, coverage and wording negotiation, placement, certificate production, claims notification, loss mitigation and renewal. For offshore, shipping, energy and export businesses, the service line may also connect Norwegian operations with international specialist markets.

DefinitionThe business service line used to assess, place, negotiate and administer commercial insurance protection for corporate risk in Norway.
ObjectCommercial Insurance
Object TypeCorporate Risk Transfer and Insurance Placement Function
ClassificationRisk Management — Insurance Broking — Underwriting Relations — Claims Administration — Regulatory Compliance
JurisdictionNorway, with EEA and international relevance where applicable

Scope

The Registry Object covers the practical architecture of commercial insurance placement and management for organisations operating in or from Norway. It focuses on non-life business risks, broker and insurer relationships, contract formation, underwriting disclosure, safety obligations, claims management, natural-perils arrangements and cross-border programme design.

Covered MattersProperty, business interruption, general and product liability, cyber, professional indemnity, D&O, marine, aviation, energy, cargo, construction and contractual-risk placements; broker mandates; policy documentation; claims notification and renewal.
Functional BoundaryThe object explains commercial insurance as a business risk-transfer and placement function. It does not replace legal advice on policy construction, marine-law advice, tax advice, actuarial work or formal regulatory authorisation advice.
Related but Not PrimaryReinsurance, credit and surety insurance, personal insurance, occupational pensions, captives and self-insurance arrangements may be related but follow separate legal or professional structures.
Outside ScopeHousehold insurance, public social insurance and internal underwriting, reserving and capital management within an insurance undertaking.

Purpose

The purpose of commercial insurance is to allocate the financial consequences of defined corporate risks to an insurance market with the capacity and authority to accept them. It supports a business's own risk-management, loss-prevention, financing and contractual-compliance objectives, but it does not replace operational controls or contractual risk allocation.

PurposeTo identify, assess and transfer material commercial risk through insurance cover appropriate to the organisation's operations, assets, liabilities and contractual obligations.
Business ValueStructured insurance placement can protect liquidity and assets, satisfy lender and counterparty requirements, support resilience following loss and connect the policyholder with insurer claims and risk-management resources.

Primary Outcome

The primary outcome of a Norwegian commercial insurance engagement is a bound policy or coordinated insurance programme documenting the insured risks, legal entities, limits, retentions, conditions, exclusions, territorial scope and claims route. The placement is a transfer of specifically defined risk; it is not a guarantee that all loss events, delay costs or contractual liabilities will be recoverable.

Primary OutcomeA bound commercial insurance policy or programme reflecting the client's agreed risk-transfer requirements.
Decision BoundaryA broker or adviser may analyse and recommend, but the policyholder retains responsibility for final placement approval, the accuracy of underwriting information and decisions on retained risk.
Implementation StepClaims handling, endorsements, risk changes and renewal negotiations are conducted after the original placement.

Request Contexts

Commercial insurance work is commonly initiated by annual renewal, financing or contract requirements, an acquisition, a new project or operational site, expanded export activity, a material change in operations, an energy or marine exposure, or a prior claim revealing an uninsured or underinsured risk.

Request ContextAnnual renewal, project commencement, acquisition, new financing, contract tender, international expansion, material asset change, cyber event, property loss or a review of existing coverage.

Typical Users

Commercial insurance in Norway is used by companies that have assets, liabilities, contractual commitments, operational exposures or specialist industry risks requiring planned risk transfer rather than standard personal or micro-business cover.

Typical UserEnergy and offshore-service companies, shipping and logistics businesses, fishing and aquaculture operators, manufacturers, construction contractors, exporters, technology companies, professional-services firms, real-estate owners, Norwegian subsidiaries and multinational groups.

Typical Scenarios

Commercial placements normally start with an identifiable commercial, contractual or operational event. The final insurance architecture should reflect the particular industry, the policyholder's Norwegian and foreign footprint, applicable statutory insurance requirements and the practical route for handling claims.

Business EventNew vessel or offshore contract, opening of a production facility, major construction project, acquisition financing, customer contract requiring insurance evidence, overseas expansion or a property/cyber loss exposing a gap.
Typical ScenarioAn energy-service provider needs liability and project cover; a shipowner requires hull, P&I and cargo-related protection; a manufacturer needs property and business-interruption cover; a technology business needs cyber and professional-indemnity insurance; a group needs a Norwegian local policy aligned with a global programme.
Professional AssistanceTypically relevant where risks are high-value, technically complex, international, subject to contractual insurance clauses or linked to a specialist sector such as marine, energy, transport or construction.

Country Characteristics

Norway's commercial insurance environment combines a mature domestic non-life market with strong EEA connections and a major specialist-risk context in maritime, offshore, energy, aquaculture and export activity. Its most distinctive placement feature is the statutory expectation of broker independence: a Norwegian insurance broker may not receive commission from an insurance undertaking, except for a specific EEA-insurer situation where the commission is passed fully to the customer.

Operational CultureRisk- and documentation-led, especially for asset-intensive and specialist industries. Broker-led placements are common for complex corporate, international, marine and energy risks.
Institutional StructureFinanstilsynet supervises insurers and intermediaries. All insurance distributors became subject to registration under the new Insurance Intermediation Act and related regulations that took effect in 2022.
Broker Independence LogicBrokers must act in accordance with good brokering practice, avoid conduct that raises doubt about independence and generally receive remuneration directly from the policyholder rather than insurer commission.
Natural Perils ContextFire-insurance policies covering Norwegian risks must also include natural-perils cover; insurers underwriting such fire insurance must participate in the Norwegian Natural Perils Pool.
Language ExpectationNorwegian is normally required for domestic policy, statutory-insurance and local claims communication. English is widely used for international programmes, marine/energy placements and group-level documentation.

Key Authorities

No authority regulates commercial insurance as a professional category separate from insurance business and insurance mediation. In accordance with the Field Applicability Principle, this section identifies the authorities and institutional bodies that materially influence insurer licensing, intermediary conduct, mandatory cover and claims-related market arrangements.

FinanstilsynetFinancial Supervisory Authority of NorwayInsurance and intermediary supervisionSupervises insurance undertakings, insurance mediation firms and EEA activity; maintains relevant registries and may require information needed for supervisory work.Licensing, registration, supervisory reporting, conduct oversight and cross-border notifications.finanstilsynet.noCentral regulator for Norwegian insurers, brokers, agents and incoming EEA activity.
Norsk NaturskadepoolNorwegian Natural Perils PoolNatural-perils insurance poolingAdministers the statutory pooling arrangement connected with fire insurance covering Norwegian risk.Natural-perils charge and loss-sharing arrangements for fire insurers.naturskade.noImportant for Norwegian property/fire insurance, including incoming insurer arrangements.
FinansklagenemndaNorwegian Financial Services Complaints BoardOut-of-court dispute resolutionProvides a complaints-handling route for eligible disputes in financial services, including insurance matters.Dispute-resolution information and complaint process.finkn.noRelevant to policyholder dispute-resolution pathways.
YrkesskadeforsikringsforeningenNorwegian Occupational Injury Insurers' BureauMandatory occupational-injury insurance frameworkSupports the statutory occupational-injury insurance arrangement and related claims protection.Membership and claims arrangements for insurers providing statutory occupational-injury cover.yff.noRelevant where a commercial programme includes mandatory Norwegian occupational-injury insurance.

Applicable Legislation

No single Norwegian statute governs commercial insurance as a self-contained service line. The applicable framework is distributed across insurance-contract law, the Financial Institutions Act, insurance-mediation rules, choice-of-law provisions, marketing law and specialised mandatory-insurance statutes.

Financial Institutions Act2015Governs financial undertakings, including insurance companies and foreign EEA insurance companies operating in Norway.Core framework for insurer authorisation, supervision and foreign EEA insurer operations.Financial Supervision Act; Solvency II-related rules; Insurance Activities Act.finanstilsynet.noIn force, subject to amendment.
Act relating to Insurance Contracts (Forsikringsavtaleloven)1989Governs non-life and personal-insurance contracts, including insurer information duties, risk disclosure, policy terms, claims and liability.Core contract-law framework for property, liability and other commercial non-life insurance.Regulations on insurance contracts; Choice of Law in Relation to Insurance Act.finanstilsynet.noIn force, subject to amendment.
Act on Insurance Mediation (Lov om forsikringsformidling)2021, effective 2022Governs brokers, agents and ancillary insurance intermediaries, including registration, conduct and information duties.Relevant whenever commercial insurance is arranged through a Norwegian or incoming EEA intermediary.Regulation on Insurance Mediation; Insurance Distribution Directive implementation.finanstilsynet.noIn force, subject to amendment.
Act on Natural Perils Insurance1989Creates the statutory natural-perils arrangement associated with fire insurance on Norwegian risk.Relevant to property/fire insurance and insurer participation in the Natural Perils Pool.Financial Institutions Act; Norwegian Natural Perils Pool rules.finanstilsynet.noIn force, subject to amendment.
Act on Occupational Injury Insurance1989Establishes mandatory occupational-injury insurance requirements for Norwegian employers.Relevant where an employer's commercial programme must include statutory employee injury cover.Yrkesskadeforsikringsforeningen arrangements; Insurance Contracts Act.finanstilsynet.noIn force, subject to amendment.

Process Flow

There is no single mandatory insurance-placement sequence for Norwegian corporate risk. The route depends on the risk type, business-sector classification, insurer appetite, policyholder sophistication, broker role and whether domestic or international markets are required. Most commercial placements nevertheless follow a recognisable operational cycle.

1. Define Risk and Insurance ObjectivesIdentify assets, operations, liabilities, contracts, regulatory obligations, existing cover and the organisation's retained-risk appetite.
2. Confirm Placement and Intermediary RouteDetermine whether the cover will be placed directly, through a Norwegian broker or agent, or through an EEA/international programme.
3. Verify Authority and RemunerationConfirm relevant insurer or intermediary authorisation and document the broker's policyholder-funded remuneration basis where applicable.
4. Prepare Underwriting InformationCompile accurate and complete information about operations, assets, turnover, claims, risk controls, contract obligations and material changes.
5. Market and Negotiate TermsApproach relevant insurers and negotiate premium, limits, deductibles, policy conditions, warranties, exclusions and claims protocols.
6. Bind and Issue DocumentationConfirm acceptance and obtain the insurance certificate, policy wording, schedule, endorsements and required certificates.
7. Administer Risk ChangesNotify and document changes in insured assets, activities, safety arrangements, corporate entities, contracts and geographical exposure.
8. Notify and Manage ClaimsReport insurance events without undue delay, take reasonable loss-mitigation measures and preserve potential recourse rights.
9. Review and RenewReassess loss history, business changes, coverage adequacy and market options before the next policy period.

Decision Tree

The appropriate placement route depends on the business-sector risk, insurer access, intermediary role and the presence of any statutory Norwegian coverage requirements. Commercial insurance is a negotiated risk-transfer mechanism rather than a routine administrative purchase; the decision tree therefore starts with risk and regulatory classification.

Does the policyholder meet the large-commercial-business thresholds or fall within an identified specialist-risk category?If yes, assess whether the Insurance Contracts Act permits contractual derogation for the placement, including the relevant commercial-business, overseas, ship, aircraft or international-transit categories.
Is a Norwegian broker being used?If yes, confirm the broker's registration and independent position; insurer commission should not be retained by the broker and is generally paid by the policyholder.
Will an EEA insurer or intermediary provide services in Norway?If yes, verify the applicable notification/passporting route. EEA brokers may commence Norwegian activity one month after Finanstilsynet receives home-state notification.
Does the policy cover property or fire risk in Norway?If yes, assess Norwegian natural-perils coverage and pool implications alongside the ordinary property placement.
Does the business require statutory occupational-injury or motor liability cover?If yes, identify the additional mandatory-insurance requirements and relevant insurer membership/representative arrangements.
Decision logic: First identify the risk, legal entity, commercial-business classification and any mandatory Norwegian cover. Then verify insurer and intermediary authority. Only after this foundation is clear should market selection, policy wording and programme coordination be finalised.

Timeline

Commercial insurance should be operated as a recurring management cycle, not merely a last-minute premium purchase. The timing depends on renewal dates, the complexity of risk information, whether specialist domestic or international capacity is required, financing or contractual deadlines, and the need to coordinate local Norwegian policies with a foreign master programme.

Risk Review StageReview operations, insured values, claims experience, contracts, safety measures and coverage gaps.
Submission StagePrepare risk information and underwriting evidence for insurer or broker market presentation.
Market StageApproach relevant domestic, EEA or, where permitted, international insurers and address underwriting questions.
Negotiation StageNegotiate premium, limits, deductibles, conditions, exclusions and claims terms.
Binding StageSecure insurer acceptance and receive policy, certificate and endorsement documentation before inception.
Administration StageManage policy declarations, certificates, entity additions, endorsements and material risk changes during the period.
Claims and Renewal StageNotify and manage claims when they occur; begin renewal review sufficiently before expiry to permit meaningful market analysis.

Required Documents

There is no universal statutory document package for every Norwegian commercial insurance placement. In accordance with Field Applicability, this section records documentation commonly required or created in practice, subject to the risk, statutory insurance class, insurer requirements and whether a broker is engaged.

Risk Submission / Proposal FormDescribes operations, assets, turnover, claims, risk controls, contract obligations and requested insurance limits for underwriting.New placements, renewals and material programme changes.
Broker Engagement / Remuneration AgreementDocuments the broker mandate, service scope, policyholder-paid fee or remuneration basis and authority to approach insurers.Broker-mediated commercial insurance placements.
Insurance Certificate and Policy TermsEvidence that the insurance contract has been concluded and identifies the applicable policy terms, safety regulations and relevant notification conditions.All bound commercial insurance contracts.
Statement of Risk InformationRecords the information given to underwriters and supports the policyholder's duty to give correct and exhaustive risk information.Placement, renewal and material risk changes.
Certificate of InsuranceConfirms insurance cover for lenders, project owners, customers, landlords or contractual counterparties.Tenders, finance agreements, leases and commercial contracts.
Claims Notice and Evidence FileDocuments notification of a potentially insured event, mitigation actions, supporting evidence and correspondence.When property damage, liability, cyber, interruption or another insured event occurs.
Natural Perils / Mandatory Cover DocumentsRecords relevant fire, natural-perils, occupational-injury or motor-liability arrangements.Where the Norwegian statutory insurance framework applies.

Cross-Border Relevance

Norway participates in the EEA insurance market, meaning cross-border insurer and intermediary activity is a routine feature of commercial placement. The practical task is not simply to identify a global insurer, but to confirm the legal basis for Norwegian risk, the route for local policy issuance, applicable mandatory cover, claims handling and the interaction of Norwegian wording with a foreign master policy.

RecognitionCommercial insurance is not a separately licensed profession. The relevant regulatory issue is whether the insurer or intermediary is authorised in Norway or entitled to provide services from another EEA state under the applicable notification process.
Foreign CompaniesEEA insurers and intermediaries may operate in Norway under the applicable cross-border framework. For business-sector non-life insurance, brokers may in specified circumstances use a non-EEA insurer, excluding several statutory cover classes.
Language ConsiderationsNorwegian language requirements are especially important in statutory insurance and employee-facing communications. English is common in international group programmes, marine, energy and specialist-market transactions.
International RulesNorwegian insurance and distribution rules are shaped by EEA participation and implementation of the Insurance Distribution Directive; EEA brokers and agents have distinct notification routes for Norwegian activity.
Practical ConsiderationsConfirm the insurer's authority, local policyholder and insured entities, local fire/natural-perils arrangements, claims-paying procedure, Norwegian certificates and master-policy difference-in-conditions or difference-in-limits structure.
Typical RisksAssuming that a foreign master policy, overseas broker appointment or non-EEA insurer automatically delivers legally permitted and operationally effective insurance for Norwegian risk.

Operating Constraints & Risks

The key operating risk is to treat commercial insurance as an annual purchasing exercise rather than as a controlled process of risk classification, insurer selection, accurate disclosure, policy compliance and claims readiness. In Norway, this risk is amplified by mandatory insurance rules, the natural-perils scheme, substantial specialist-sector exposures and strict expectations about broker independence.

Disclosure RiskThe policyholder must provide correct and exhaustive answers to insurer risk questions and volunteer specifically material information; failures may reduce or remove insurer liability.
Risk-Change RiskMaterial changes in the risk, insured use or safety arrangements can activate policy limitations or proportional reduction clauses.
Safety-Regulation RiskFailure to comply with stipulated safety and security regulations can affect recovery, subject to the statutory conditions and causation analysis.
Broker-Independence RiskBroker remuneration or insurer arrangements that create doubt about independence can conflict with Norwegian good-brokering standards.
Mandatory-Cover RiskFailure to address occupational injury, motor liability, fire/natural-perils or other compulsory arrangements can leave a Norwegian business non-compliant or exposed.
Programme-Coordination RiskMisalignment between Norwegian local policies and global master policies can produce coverage gaps, duplicate insurance or claims-payment uncertainty.

Costs & Fees

There is no statutory tariff for commercial insurance placement in Norway. Premium reflects the underwriting assessment of the risk, while broker remuneration must be structured consistently with Norwegian broker-independence rules. Norwegian brokers are generally prohibited from receiving commission from insurers, so commission is ordinarily paid directly by the policyholder; the stated EEA-insurer exception requires full pass-through of the commission to the customer.

Premium BasisAssessment of insured values, turnover, operational activity, claims history, sector risk, safety measures, limits, deductibles and coverage scope.
Broker RemunerationUsually a direct policyholder-paid fee or agreed remuneration structure rather than insurer commission.
Commission RestrictionInsurance brokers operating in Norway may not receive insurer commission, except for the specified EEA insurer scenario where the commission is transferred in full to the principal.
Potential Additional CostsRisk engineering, valuation, marine or energy surveys, cybersecurity assessment, legal wording review, claims advocacy and multinational programme administration.
Commercial VariablesLimit, deductible, co-insurance, claims history, captive participation, policy period, payment terms, cancellation provisions and service scope.

FAQ

Is commercial insurance a separately regulated profession in Norway?No. Commercial insurance is a business service line. Insurers are supervised under the financial-institutions framework, and brokers, agents and ancillary intermediaries are regulated under the Insurance Mediation Act and associated rules.
Can a Norwegian broker receive commission from the insurer?Generally no. Norwegian legislation prohibits a broker operating in Norway from receiving insurer commission, with a limited EEA-insurer exception where the commission is transferred fully to the customer.
What types of commercial activity can permit contractual derogation under the Insurance Contracts Act?Examples include businesses meeting at least two thresholds of more than 250 employees, at least NOK 100 million sales and at least NOK 50 million assets, as well as largely foreign business, registered ships, aircraft and goods in international transit.
Can an EEA broker provide insurance services in Norway?Yes. An EEA-registered broker can provide cross-border services or establish a branch after the applicable home-state notification process; Finanstilsynet states that brokers may commence one month after it receives the notification.
Does Norwegian property/fire insurance include natural-perils considerations?Yes. Fire-insurance contracts covering Norwegian risk must include natural-perils cover, and insurers writing this fire insurance must be members of the Norwegian Natural Perils Pool.

Operational Considerations

This section records the practical variables that commonly determine how a Norwegian commercial insurance placement is scoped, documented, placed, administered and renewed. The variables are registry-oriented reference points; they do not decide the outcome of a particular underwriting decision, claim or dispute.

Risk ClassificationThe distinction between ordinary commercial risk, large commercial business, specialist marine/energy exposure and mandatory cover affects placement design and contractual flexibility.
Intermediary ModelDirect placement, agent distribution and independent broker placement have different commercial and regulatory implications, particularly regarding broker remuneration.
Evidence BaseRisk data, claims history, asset schedules, turnover, operational controls, safety records, contract requirements and policyholder disclosures form the underwriting basis.
Policy ArchitectureLimits, deductibles, exclusions, safety regulations, insured entities, territory, natural-perils treatment and local-versus-master policy design must be assessed together.
Decision ScopeA bound policy transfers only the defined risks, entities and events within its wording; it does not replace loss prevention, governance or contractual risk allocation.
Change ManagementNew facilities, assets, vessels, projects, overseas operations, acquisitions, new contracts and material safety changes can require notification, endorsement or re-placement.

Jurisdictional Expert

This registry position is separate from the editorial reference content. Its availability does not affect the neutral description of commercial insurance in Norway.

Registry Position IDRE-NO-COMINS-001
Registry AvailabilityOpen
Verification StatusNo verified participant currently assigned to this registry position.
CoverageNorwegian commercial insurance placement, broker-independence requirements, policyholder disclosure, marine/energy and business-sector relevance, mandatory-cover context and EEA programme coordination.
Registry ReferenceCIR-NO-COMINS-001-A Jurisdictional Expert Position
Contact InformationRegistry position not yet assigned.

Machine Layer

Object DNAcommercial insurance norway business insurance corporate risk insurance broker insurance agent finanstilsynet insurance contracts act insurance mediation act financial institutions act natural perils pool property liability business interruption cyber D&O marine energy cargo claims renewal EEA passporting broker commission
AI Retrieval SummaryNeutral registry object explaining commercial insurance in Norway, including insurer and intermediary supervision, broker commission restrictions, business-sector and large-commercial insurance relevance, the Insurance Contracts Act, Norwegian natural-perils coverage, placement process, documents and EEA cross-border considerations.
Entity IndexNorway Commercial Insurance Finanstilsynet Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway Forsikringsavtaleloven Insurance Contracts Act Lov om forsikringsformidling Insurance Mediation Act Financial Institutions Act Norsk Naturskadepool Norwegian Natural Perils Pool Yrkesskadeforsikringsforeningen EEA Insurance Broker Insurance Agent
Machine MetadataRegistry rendering layer https://commercial-insurance-registry.org/css/registry.css — Object ID NO.COMINS.001 — Machine Reference CIR-NO-COMINS-001-A — Internal Classification Business > Risk Management > Commercial Insurance > Norway
Internal ReferencesRegistry Object — Jurisdiction Node — Editorial Record — Jurisdictional Expert Position — Machine-readable Reference Node