Short answer. Article 144 of Taiwan's Building Technical Regulations sets the design standards for air-raid shelter facilities: reinforced concrete or steel-reinforced concrete, at least 30 cm of reinforced concrete on exposed walls and roof slabs, a ceiling height of at least 2.1 m, two entrances, fire- and smoke-resistant doors, mechanical ventilation of at least 25 m³ per m² per hour on emergency power, and lighting of at least 100 lux 1.
What does article 144 require?
| Element | Requirement |
|---|---|
| Height | ceiling or floor-to-beam height at least 2.1 m 1 |
| Entrances, under 240 m² | two entrances; one may be a ladder emergency exit of at least 0.6 m square or 0.85 m diameter 1 |
| Entrances, 240 m² or more | two stair (or ramp) entrances, one leading outdoors 1 |
| Openings facing outdoors | fire doors or windows with at least 1-hour fire rating and smoke sealing 1 |
| Walls, entrance surroundings, roof slabs (exposed) | reinforced concrete at least 30 cm thick 1 |
| Semi-basement | exposed part less than half the ceiling height 1 |
| Structure | entirely reinforced concrete or steel-reinforced concrete; waterproofing required 1 |
| Ventilation | mechanical, at least 25 m³ per m² of floor per hour, connected to emergency power 1 |
| Power and light | emergency power sockets and emergency lighting; floor illuminance at least 100 lux 1 |
Which version of the rules applies?
Articles 140 to 142 and 144, as amended on 23 February 2026, apply from 1 July 2026 1. The source consulted is the consolidated text on the national law database (全國法規資料庫), accessed 2026-10-20 1.
Is there a certification for shelter products?
No separate product certification was found. Compliance is checked through the building permit process 1.
Where do these standards apply?
They apply to the shelter facilities that articles 140 and 141 require in new, extended, rebuilt or change-of-use buildings in designated areas, such as non-public buildings of 6 or more storeys 1. See the build a shelter page for which buildings are covered.
Can I use article 144 to design my own shelter?
Article 144 is public law, but applying it is engineering work. Any design must be done by a licensed engineer or architect and approved through the building permit 1. This page lists requirements; it does not give construction instructions. For background on what these elements do, see /guides/protection-factor, /guides/shelter-ventilation and /guides/nbc-filtration.
Frequently asked questions
How thick must a shelter's walls be in Taiwan?
Exposed walls, entrance surroundings and roof slabs must be reinforced concrete at least 30 cm thick 1.
Does a shelter in Taiwan need two exits?
Yes. Under 240 m², one of the two may be a ladder emergency exit of at least 0.6 m square or 0.85 m diameter; from 240 m², both are stair or ramp entrances and one leads outdoors 1.
Does article 144 require air filtration?
The article as summarised here requires mechanical ventilation of at least 25 m³ per m² per hour on emergency power 1; no filtration requirement is listed in the verified data.
Sources
- 內政部 / 全國法規資料庫 — 建築技術規則建築設計施工編 (第140-144條，修正日期 民國115年02月23日) — https://law.moj.gov.tw/LawClass/LawAll.aspx?pcode=D0070115 (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
Your plan for Taiwan, 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
- 內政部 / 全國法規資料庫 · 建築技術規則建築設計施工編 (第140-144條，修正日期 民國115年02月23日) checked 2026-10-20