Short answer. Italy has no technical standard or approval scheme for civil-defence shelters. The national rules that do exist concern tsunamis: guidance adopted by a decree of the Head of the Civil Protection Department of 2 October 2018, published in the Gazzetta Ufficiale no. 266 of 15 November 2018 4, tells coastal municipalities to plan evacuation to waiting areas (aree di attesa) in safe zones 12, and sets a standard national set of tsunami signs 3.
Is there a shelter standard in Italy?
No published technical standard for blast or fallout shelters was found. For an overview of what is available to the public, see public shelters in Italy and building a private shelter in Italy.
What must coastal municipalities plan for tsunamis?
The guidance was issued under the 2017 directive that set up the national tsunami alert system (SiAM) and under the Civil Protection Code 2. The decree makes it an integral part of the act; the Gazzetta Ufficiale prints the decree and refers readers to the Department's website for the full text 4. Its strategy is preventive evacuation of predefined coastal zones when an alert is issued. Evacuation can be horizontal, inland and away from the coast, or vertical, to the upper floors of buildings able to withstand tsunami forces or to higher ground 2.
In its plan, each coastal municipality must 2:
- divide the coastal area at risk into sectors and give each sector enough waiting areas in safe zones;
- set evacuation routes that lead to waiting areas outside both alert zones, sized for the number of people and the time needed to reach them;
- check whether the technical conditions for vertical evacuation exist (Annex 3 of the guidance);
- make sure waiting and reception areas lie outside the zones at risk;
- hold regular exercises.
What do the alert zones mean?
Some coastal municipalities have two alert zones 3. An orange alert is issued for a wave under 0.5 m in open sea and/or a run-up under 1 m; a red alert for anything larger 3. Where two zones exist, an orange alert means evacuating zone 1, and a red alert means evacuating zones 1 and 2 3. A municipality may also merge them into a single zone 3.
How do I recognise the official signs?
Annex 4 defines seven sign types: risk, behaviour, direction to the evacuation route, direction to the waiting area, location of the waiting area, and alert zones 1 and 2 3. Triangles mean danger, rectangles give a direction and squares describe behaviour; yellow marks danger, green a safe zone and blue is institutional 3. Texts are in Italian and English 3. The waiting-area sign is a 60 x 60 cm square showing a family inside an ellipse on a green background 3. Signs are optional: municipalities may consider installing them 2. If they do, the municipal plan must explain each sign and include a map of their locations 3.
How can I check my municipality's plan?
Mayors must inform residents about risks, and coastal municipalities must have a communication plan for their tsunami planning 2. Ask your Comune for its civil protection plan. For alerts, see alerts in Italy.
Can I use this guidance for a private refuge?
No. Whether a building is suitable for vertical evacuation is assessed by the municipality as part of its plan 2. Any structural question belongs to a qualified engineer. Phaenyx does not give construction instructions.
Frequently asked questions
Does Italy require shelters in new buildings?
No such national obligation was found.
What is an "area di attesa"?
A place in a safe zone where people gather after evacuating and receive first assistance, set in the municipal plan 2.
Are tsunami signs the same everywhere in Italy?
The national annex sets common shapes, colours and sizes, with the logos of the Department, the Region and the Comune at the bottom 3.
Sources
- ISPRA – Sistema nazionale di allerta maremoti - SiAM – https://www.isprambiente.gov.it/it/servizi/sistema-nazionale-di-allerta-maremoti-1 (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Dipartimento della Protezione Civile – Indicazioni per l'aggiornamento delle pianificazioni di protezione civile per il rischio maremoto – https://www.protezionecivile.gov.it/static/0d78a388122669d46d9a7df0a09cc562/Indicazioni_per_l_aggiornamento_pianificazione.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Dipartimento della Protezione Civile – Allegato 4, Segnaletica di emergenza per il rischio maremoto – https://rischi.protezionecivile.gov.it/static/e775a3f0fb570b8b2bf4a73a61d8de60/allegato-4-alle-indicazioni-operative.pdf (accessed 2026-10-27)
- Gazzetta Ufficiale – Decreto 2 ottobre 2018, GU Serie Generale n. 266 del 15-11-2018 – https://www.gazzettaufficiale.it/atto/serie_generale/caricaDettaglioAtto/originario?atto.dataPubblicazioneGazzetta=2018-11-15&atto.codiceRedazionale=18A07309 (accessed 2026-10-27)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Italy, worked out for your household.
- Water, food and equipment counted for each person and pet
- The nuclear plants and zones around your home
- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- ISPRA – Istituto Superiore per la Protezione e la Ricerca Ambientale · Sistema nazionale di allerta maremoti - SiAM checked 2026-10-27
- Dipartimento della Protezione Civile · Indicazioni per l'aggiornamento delle pianificazioni di protezione civile per il rischio maremoto checked 2026-10-27
- Dipartimento della Protezione Civile · Allegato 4 – Segnaletica di emergenza per il rischio maremoto checked 2026-10-27
- Gazzetta Ufficiale della Repubblica Italiana · Decreto 2 ottobre 2018 – Indicazioni ... per l'aggiornamento delle pianificazioni di protezione civile per il rischio maremoto (GU Serie Generale n. 266 del 15-11-2018) checked 2026-10-27