Finnish S1 / S2 Shelters: Licensed Design, Localization and Supply of Shelter Equipment
- a2zshelters
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Civil defence shelters in Finland represent a long-established approach to country preparedness and establishment of hardened facilities and protected infrastructure. Finland has been building civil defence shelters for decades, while the Ministry of the Interior is responsible for legislation related to civil defence and rescue services are responsible for implementation during a crisis.
Today, Atmas Group offers to its partners worldwide the possibility to establish localized manufacturing of Finnish-designed S1 and S2 prefabricated or cast-in-place shelters, supported throughout the project from design through construction and commissioning.
Civil Defence Shelters in Finland
The Finnish shelter system includes a substantial existing network. In 2023, Finland had approximately 55,500 civil defence shelters designed for 4.8 million people. Around 560–700 shelters are built annually.
The construction obligation applies throughout Finland. According to the information published, the requirements include:
2% of the building's gross floor area for residential buildings exceeding 1,200 m².
1% of the building's gross floor area for industrial, production, storage and assembly buildings exceeding 1,500 m².
A minimum shelter area of 0.75 m² per person.
Three principal types of civil defence shelters are identified on the Atmas Group website:
Shelter type | Area |
S1 shelter | 20–135 m² |
S2 shelter | up to 900 m² |
Rock shelter | up to 4,500 m² |
Finnish S1 Shelter Design and Local Shelter Prefabricated Manufacturing
Atmas Group offers a model based on licensed Finnish shelter design and localized manufacturing. The approach allows partners in different countries to establish local production of prefabricated Finnish-type S1 shelters rather than relying exclusively on completed structures transported from Finland.
The service includes four principal areas:
Licensed shelter design
Guidance for establishing localized production
Supply of required shelter equipment
Consultation and project support
This model combines the Finnish design approach with local manufacturing capabilities and project-specific implementation.
Why Prefabrication Is Used
Prefabricated construction can provide several practical advantages during shelter projects. Atmas Group can offer improved design which considers material losses, improved construction quality and worker safety, shorter lead times and improved installation efficiency among the advantages of prefabrication.
The company approach can help to identify:
selection of the right technology for specific construction sites;
more efficient logistics chains;
reduced on-site overhead costs;
fewer unexpected or unpredictable additional costs or delays during construction / assembly work.
These characteristics are particularly relevant when the shelter design is produced in advance and the construction process follows an established technical layout.
Shelter Design According to Finnish Shelter Norms and Engineering Support
Atmas Group states that its specialists provide a a professional shelter design incorporating the elements required by Finnish shelter norms and the placement of equipment. The purpose is to provide a professional design and enable production to begin in a shorter timeframe.
The design approach therefore covers not only the physical shelter structure but also the positioning of the necessary shelter equipment.
This is an important part of the overall project because ventilation, access protection, water storage and other emergency equipment must form part of the functional shelter system.
CBRN Filtration & Ventilation for S1 Shelters
One of the many options for shelter equipment solutions presented by Atmas Group is the IVL-1 CBRN filtration system.
The IVL-1 is designed specifically for S1-class civil defence shelters. According to the product information, its ventilation unit is designed to provide filtered air and support creation of overpressure inside the gastight civil defence shelter during a crisis and to filter harmful gases and particles from the incoming air.
Blast Doors and Hatches
Shelter openings are another essential component of a protected structure. Atmas Group lists SO-1 Shelter Blast Doors and HS-1 Hatches among the equipment available for Finnish civil defence shelters.
The company describes these as heavy-duty, blast-rated and gastight doors and hatches designed to comply with Finnish civil defence shelters norms and other protected structures norms around the world. The doors are designed according to criteria of Finnish norms requirements and can also be customized for specific requirements.
Additional Finnish Shelter Equipment
The S1 shelter solution can also incorporate additional equipment listed by Atmas Group, including:
Door Entrance Barrier Tent ST-1;
Dry Toilet Foldable Cabin KH-3;
Dry Toilet Furniture KK-3;
Waste Container JS-3;
Emergency Equipment Box;
beds and special furniture;
personal protective equipment;
CBRN decontamination solutions;
dry toilets;
water tanks and storage solutions.
A Complete Approach to Finnish-Type S1 Shelters
The Finnish S1 shelter concept presented by Atmas Group combines several elements into one coordinated project: licensed design, localized manufacturing, technical support, shelter equipment and project consultation.
The published Finnish shelter data demonstrates the scale of civil defence infrastructure in Finland, while the S1 category provides a defined shelter format with an area of 20–135 m².
For organizations considering Finnish-type shelter manufacturing outside Finland, Atmas Group offers a model based on licensed design, local production and equipment supply, supported from the design stage through project implementation.
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