Not all buildings with basements are required to include civil protection shelters. However, in certain situations expressly provided by Government Decision no. 862/2016, this obligation becomes mandatory.
In general, ALA shelters are mandatory for new buildings with basements when the gross floor area is at least 600 m² and the construction has certain designated uses.
The following categories are particularly targeted:
- headquarters of local public authorities and institutions;
- commercial, production, or storage spaces;
- office buildings, financial-banking institutions, insurance buildings;
- educational institutions, care or accommodation centers (for children, pupils, students, the elderly, or persons with disabilities);
- healthcare facilities (hospitals with inpatient beds – regardless of area; dispensaries/polyclinics ≥ 600 m²);
- cultural buildings ≥ 600 m²;
- hotels, motels, tourist villas ≥ 600 m²;
- buildings for electronic communications ≥ 600 m²;
- collective residential buildings ≥ 600 m²;
- railway stations, bus stations, airports ≥ 600 m²;
- places of worship and related accommodation facilities ≥ 600 m².
Metro stations are also included among the constructions for which the provision of shelters is mandatory.
What should be known about extensions?
The obligation may also arise when extending an existing building with a basement, if the extension exceeds 150 m² and the resulting construction falls within the categories provided by the normative act.
Why is verification important at the design stage?
If you are designing a building with a basement and the gross floor area approaches 600 m² or the building has one of the uses mentioned above, the obligation regarding an ALA shelter must be analyzed from the DTAC/DDE design stage.
A late verification may lead to costly project modifications, delays in obtaining approvals, or obstacles at the final acceptance of the construction.