Construction of civil defence shelters for new builds
The authority granting the building permit may, on a case-by-case basis and after consulting the rescue authority, grant exemptions from the technical, location and size requirements for civil defence shelters.
The building control authority must be contacted when seeking an exemption from the statutory duty to build a civil defence shelter. On a case-by-case basis, the authority granting the building permit may, after consulting the rescue authority, grant an exemption from the duty to build a civil defence shelter, if
- the costs of building the civil defence shelter would be substantially higher than normal, or
- the construction of the civil defence shelter would involve substantial technical difficulties.
The authority granting the building permit may also, on a case-by-case basis and after consulting the rescue authority, grant exemptions from the technical or location requirements for civil defence shelters or requirements or restrictions related to size.
Postponement of the construction of a civil defence shelter
If you wish to apply for a postponement for the construction of a civil defence shelter, please contact the building control authority. The authority granting the building permit may, after consulting the rescue authority, allow a joint civil defence shelter to be built for two or more buildings on condition that the shelter will be built within five years of the partial final inspection of the first building.
The authority granting the building permit may permit the construction of a joint civil defence shelter even later than within five years from the partial final inspection of the first building if there are justified grounds for doing so and if the exemption does not materially reduce the availability of protection.
Duty to renovate civil defence shelters in conjunction with alterations and repairs
If the alteration or repair of a building or a change in its intended purpose under the Land Use and Building Act is carried out in a building with a civil defence shelter, the shelter must also be renovated to meet the requirements for the technical details of a civil defence shelter laid down in section 74 of the act and the requirements issued on its basis, where applicable.
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The obligation to build a civil defence shelter is provided for in chapter 11 of the Rescue Act (379/2011)
Rescue Act (379/2011), section 71
Rescue Act (379/2011), section 72
Rescue Act (379/2011), section 74
Land Use and Building Act (132/1999), section 125
Act amending the Rescue Act (1353/2018), section 75
