Short answer. Swiss shelters are standardised by binding technical directives of the Federal Office for Civil Protection (FOCP, German BABS) and may be built only with components tested and approved by the FOCP 1. Approved blast doors, ventilation units, gas filters and explosion-protection valves are listed in the Civil Protection Components Database (ZKDB) at www.zkdb.vbs.admin.ch 1.
Which directives govern Swiss shelters?
The FOCP publishes the following technical directives ("Technische Weisungen", TW) 1:
| Directive | Subject |
|---|---|
| TWP 1984 | Mandatory shelter construction |
| TWK 2017 | Construction and design of protective structures (updated 19 December 2025) |
| TWS 1982 | Special shelters: hospitals, care homes, underground car parks |
| TW Schock 2021 | Shock resistance of built-in parts |
| TW EMP 2007 | EMP protection of the power supply |
| TW-Z&Q (1 May 2026) | Approval procedure and quality management for components subject to testing |
| PSBK directives (7 May 2025) | Periodic inspection of protective structures |
They are available from the FOCP's shelter documentation page 1.
What does FOCP approval mean for components?
Components such as blast doors, ventilation units, gas filters and explosion-protection valves must hold an FOCP approval before they can be installed in a shelter 1. Approved products are listed in the ZKDB 1. The TW-Z&Q directive of 1 May 2026 sets out the approval procedure and the quality management required for these components 1.
The same rule applies when a shelter is renewed: after about 40 years, renewal may use only FOCP-approved components 2. The owner may not modify the envelope, the blast doors or the ventilation 2.
How are existing shelters checked?
Periodic inspection follows the PSBK directives dated 7 May 2025 1. Authorities inspect shelters at least every ten years, and owners must keep them accessible for these inspections 2.
What equipment is required inside?
Since 1987, shelters must contain bunks and dry toilets, with fixed toilet cabins in shelters for more than 30 people, stored dry and clean on site 2. For background on why ventilation and filtration matter in a shelter, see our guides on shelter ventilation and NBC air filtration. The idea of a protection factor explains how shielding is compared.
Can I apply these standards to a private project myself?
The directives define technical requirements for shelters within the Swiss civil-protection system 1. Applying them is a matter for a qualified engineer working with the cantonal authorities, which approve all structural changes in the shelter area 2. Phaenyx does not give construction instructions. See building a shelter for the legal duties of owners.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I check whether a blast door or filter is approved?
In the Civil Protection Components Database (ZKDB) at www.zkdb.vbs.admin.ch 1.
Which directive applies to an ordinary residential shelter?
TWP 1984 covers mandatory shelter construction, and TWK 2017 covers the construction and design of protective structures 1.
Are hospital and car-park shelters treated differently?
Yes. Special shelters in hospitals, care homes and underground car parks fall under TWS 1982 1.
Sources
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS — Unterlagen Schutzbauten — https://www.babs.admin.ch/de/unterlagen-schutzbauten (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS — Schutzbauten: eine Investition in die Sicherheit — https://www.babs.admin.ch/de/schutzbauten-eine-investition-in-die-sicherheit (accessed 2026-10-20)
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Sources
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS · Unterlagen Schutzbauten checked 2026-10-20
- Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz BABS · Schutzbauten: eine Investition in die Sicherheit checked 2026-10-20