Seeking shelter
Sheltering is essential in situations where there is an immediate and serious threat to your life and health. Such situations may include a major accident involving hazardous chemicals, explosions, military attacks, or other unexpected emergencies. The purpose of sheltering is to protect yourself from shockwaves, fire smoke, flying debris (such as shrapnel) and other direct dangers. The best place to shelter is the nearest room without windows. In wartime, a cellar or any room with strong walls is ideal. In an emergency, speed is critical — you must use whatever options are immediately available.
When should you shelter?
If you hear sirens, receive an EE-ALARM public warning message, or see or hear rockets, drones or explosions, move quickly to a prepared shelter or safe room inside a building.
If you are outdoors, head immediately to the nearest shelter or safe building. If you do not know whether a building has a designated shelter, try to find the safest possible room inside the nearest building — ideally, a room with reinforced walls and no windows. Keep well away from windows at all times.
How to prepare for sheltering?
It is a good idea to plan in advance where and how you would shelter, depending on where you usually are: at home, at work, at school, in a shop, on the street or travelling by car, both day and night. At home or at work, it is often possible to prepare rooms in advance for sheltering. When moving about outside, look for signs marking public shelters.
You can check public shelter locations via the online map here.
If you live in a private house or own a building
- You know your own house best. Evaluate objectively which rooms are most suitable for shelter and prepare them in advance.
- If no preparations have been made, choose a sturdy, windowless room on a lower level such as a cellar or basement.
- If no suitable shelter is available in your home, consider in advance whether the building is safe enough during a crisis.
If you live in an apartment building
- Find out whether there are basement levels suitable for shelter and whether any preparations have been made by your housing association.
- If there are no basements, identify ground-floor rooms with strong structures, where the risk of collapse is lower and from where it would be easier to escape if necessary.
- Larger residential buildings should have several separate shelters to allow quicker access for all occupants.
- If no suitable areas are available, reconsider whether it is safe to stay there during a crisis.
- Public shelters are marked with the international civil defence sign: a blue equilateral triangle on an orange background, usually placed on the door, near entrances, or on the outer walls of the building.
Basic requirements for sheltering areas
Shelters are rarely purpose-built. Most are adapted from existing spaces, such as:
- Basements
- Underground garages
- Storage rooms or stairwells on a lower level
Everyday spaces may be repurposed quickly for shelter in a crisis — such spaces should be cleared of unnecessary items when needed.
Each person should have at least 0.75 m² for standing or sitting. For bedridden persons (e.g., hospitals or care homes), 2–3 times more space is needed.
Must have requirements for shelters:
- Strong structures
Walls: reinforced concrete preferred; at least 200 mm for exterior walls, 100 mm for interior walls.
Ceiling: cast concrete slabs preferred (not wood). Strengthen panel ceilings with additional supports if necessary.
Floor: solid, dry surfaces (avoid carpets or soft surfaces).
Windows: best to shelter in windowless rooms. Where there are windows, reinforce them externally with sandbags (about 50 cm thick) or metal shutters (at least 26 mm thick).
Doors: strong, explosion- and fire-resistant doors with preferably mechanical locks.
- Ventilation
Small spaces: natural ventilation via reinforced window pipes.
Larger spaces: mechanical ventilation, ideally with filters and backup power.
- At least two exits
Spaces over 10 m² should have at least two exits. Smaller spaces should have tools ready to clear escape routes.
- Dry and clean spaces
The shelter must be dry, clean, and well-organised. In everyday circumstances, the room may serve another purpose, but in a crisis, it must be possible to quickly convert it for shelter use.
- Responsible person
Every shelter must have a designated person responsible for preparation. In private homes, this is usually the resident; in larger buildings, the owner or building manager must appoint someone.
Nice to have requirements for shelters:
With planning, a shelter can be made more comfortable and safer. Not everything may be feasible in your building, but even small adjustments can make a significant difference during a crisis.
- Rooms
The temperature in a shelter should ideally remain between +10 and +25°C. When finishing walls, ceilings, and floors, choose non-flammable materials and light colours. The best option is concrete treated with a dust-repellent substance.
To monitor air quality, install CO₂ sensors. Smoke and carbon monoxide detectors are also recommended. The shelter must meet fire safety requirements, and basic fire extinguishing equipment should be available. Additional helpful items include respirators, ear plugs, and protective masks.
You may also store materials required for supporting ceilings in the shelter. These supports should only be installed if a heightened threat arises — ideally within 72 hours of risk identification.
- Toilets and hygiene
Ideally, there should be one toilet for every 20 m², separated by a wall or curtain for privacy. A dry toilet type solution is suitable — for example, a bucket with a toilet seat. Liner bags and absorbent material (e.g., peat or sawdust) can help manage liquid waste and odour. In the case of traditional toilets, keep in mind that sewer systems may not function during power outages. Store supplies such as toilet paper and make arrangements for handwashing facilities.
- Water and cooking facilities
Where possible, provide a tap with clean drinking water in the shelter, along with containers for storing water. Plan for a minimum of 3 litres of water per person per day (2 litres for drinking, 1 for food preparation and other uses). If there’s no running water, fill storage containers in advance.
Depending on space, consider basic facilities for preparing food, such as: a worktop with a sink, nn electric kettle for boiling water, a microwave for reheating food, a portable hotplate or camping stove (primus).
- Power supply and lighting
If possible, install an independent power supply, such as a generator or battery system. If the generator will be installed indoors, it must be placed in a dedicated, ventilated room, with proper management of exhaust, noise, and vibration. Ensure fuel for the generator is stored safely and in line with regulations. During a crisis, the generator should provide the most essential building functions, such as: heating system controls and circulation pumps, water pumps, emergency lighting, smoke extraction systems, door intercoms or access systems, plug sockets in the shelter for charging phones, stairwell and shelter lighting and other critical devices with low power usage.
It is strongly recommended to consult a certified electrician to plan and install an alternative power supply.
Where possible, install power sockets in different areas for charging devices. Also think about alternative light sources, like torches or rechargeable LED lights.
- Waste management
Store rubbish bags in the shelter, allowing for approximately 5 litres of waste per square metre of space.
- Maintaining communication
Check in advance whether the shelter has adequate mobile network coverage. If necessary, consider installing a signal booster.
Display important phone numbers on the wall, including: emergency services, state help line, contacts for building management, national radio broadcast frequencies. A radio (preferably one that works on batteries or with a hand crank) should be available to keep up to date with news and official instructions.
- Seating and sleeping arrangements
Where possible, provide seating in the shelter area. If desired and space allows, plan for basic sleeping arrangements such as bunk beds or folding beds.