Short answer. Finland has binding shelter standards. Government Decree 408/2011 sets the size, class and location of civil defence shelters; Ministry of the Interior Decree 506/2011 sets technical requirements and maintenance; Government Decree 409/2011 sets requirements and the "VSS" marking for shelter equipment 124. A shelter may be up to 500 m from the building it serves 3.
Which decrees set the rules?
| Text | What it covers | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Government Decree 408/2011 on civil defence shelters | Size, class and location | 15 |
| Ministry of the Interior Decree 506/2011 | Technical requirements and maintenance of shelter equipment | 2 |
| Government Decree 409/2011 on shelter equipment | Requirements and VSS marking of equipment | 4 |
| Government Decree 1378/2018 | Amends sections 1 and 3 of Decree 408/2011, including the distance rule | 3 |
These decrees apply the shelter duty of the Rescue Act, explained on Building a shelter in Finland.
What shelter classes exist?
Decree 408/2011 defines three classes 1:
| Class | Maximum area | Design blast load | Walls and roof |
|---|---|---|---|
| S1 reinforced-concrete shelter | 135 m² | 100 kPa (1 bar) | at least 300 mm reinforced concrete |
| S2 reinforced-concrete shelter | 900 m² | 200 kPa (2 bar) | at least 400 mm reinforced concrete |
| Bedrock shelter | 4,500 m² | 300 kPa (3 bar) | pressure walls in the rock tunnel of at least 800 mm reinforced concrete |
These figures describe what the law requires of a finished shelter. They are not a design method: the structure, openings, doors and ventilation of a shelter are designed by an engineer. Phaenyx gives no construction instructions.
How big must a shelter be?
Decree 408/2011 sets the size 1:
- Shelter area of at least 2% of the total floor area of the building it serves;
- 1% for shops and for industrial, production, assembly and storage buildings;
- a minimum of 20 m²;
- 0.75 m² per person when the shelter is sized by the number of occupants.
How far from the building can it be?
At most 500 metres. The decree reads: "Väestönsuoja saadaan sijoittaa enintään 500 metrin päähän rakennuksesta, jota varten se rakennetaan." (A shelter may be located at most 500 metres from the building for which it is built.) 3 This distance was set by Decree 1378/2018, in force since 1 January 2019; before that, the limit was 250 m 3.
What does the VSS marking mean?
Shelter equipment and products must carry a permanent marking with the letters VSS, the product name, the manufacturer, the year and a serial number 4. The party that places the equipment on the market is responsible for its conformity, under the Rescue Service Equipment Act (10/2007) 4.
For background on air supply and filtration, see our guides How does NBC air filtration work in a shelter? and How much fresh air does a shelter need?.
Are the rules changing?
The second phase of the Rescue Act reform went to consultation in June-July 2026. It proposes clearer rules on shelter activation plans and condition inspections 6. Check the current consolidated texts on Finlex before relying on any detail 5.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between an S1 and an S2 shelter?
An S1 shelter is up to 135 m², designed for 100 kPa, with walls and roof of at least 300 mm of reinforced concrete; an S2 is up to 900 m², designed for 200 kPa, with at least 400 mm 1.
How much space per person does a Finnish shelter require?
0.75 m² per person when the shelter is sized by occupancy, with a minimum shelter area of 20 m² 1.
Can a shelter be in another building?
Yes, within 500 metres of the building it serves, since 1 January 2019 3.
Where do I read the current text?
On Finlex, which publishes the consolidated version of Decree 408/2011 5.
Sources
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) — Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista 408/2011 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/97896/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) — Sisäasiainministeriön asetus väestönsuojien teknisistä vaatimuksista ja väestönsuojien laitteiden kunnossapidosta 506/2011 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/97201/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) — Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen 1 ja 3 §:n muuttamisesta 1378/2018 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/45574/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) — Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojan laitteista ja varusteista 409/2011 — https://www.finlex.fi/api/media/statute/97072/mainPdf/main.pdf (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Finlex — Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista 408/2011 (consolidated text page) — https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2011/408 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) — Pelastuslain uudistukset lausuntokierrokselle — https://valtioneuvosto.fi/-/1410869/pelastuslain-uudistukset-lausuntokierrokselle (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) · Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista 408/2011 checked 2026-10-20
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) · Sisäasiainministeriön asetus väestönsuojien teknisistä vaatimuksista ja väestönsuojien laitteiden kunnossapidosta 506/2011 checked 2026-10-20
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) · Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista annetun valtioneuvoston asetuksen 1 ja 3 §:n muuttamisesta 1378/2018 checked 2026-10-20
- Finlex (Suomen säädöskokoelma) · Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojan laitteista ja varusteista 409/2011 checked 2026-10-20
- Finlex · Valtioneuvoston asetus väestönsuojista 408/2011 (consolidated text page) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministry of the Interior (valtioneuvosto.fi) · Pelastuslain uudistukset lausuntokierrokselle checked 2026-10-20