Short answer. Interior Ministry Decree 380/2002 Sb. sets the technical requirements for Czech public shelters (§ 22) 1. Permanent shelters are designed mainly as fully underground, dual-use spaces, sited within 500 m of where people gather, at least 100 m from toxic-gas stores and outside flood zones, with ventilation, water supply and seismic protection in the design 1. Pressure-resistant shelters carry a resistance class, STOÚ_3 to STOÚ_5 in the register 2.
Which law sets Czech shelter standards?
Vyhláška č. 380/2002 Sb., k přípravě a provádění úkolů ochrany obyvatelstva (Decree 380/2002 Coll. on preparing and carrying out civil protection tasks), issued by the Interior Ministry 1. Three sections matter most here 1:
- § 15: capacity and occupancy.
- § 16: types of shelter, including improvised shelters.
- § 22: technical requirements for permanent shelters.
What does § 22 require of a permanent shelter?
| Requirement | Rule 1 |
|---|---|
| Position | Mainly fully underground (zcela zapuštěné) |
| Use | Dual-use (dvouúčelové využití) |
| Distance to people | Within 500 m of where people gather |
| Distance to hazards | At least 100 m from toxic-gas stores |
| Flooding | Outside flood zones |
| Systems | Design must cover ventilation, water supply and seismic protection |
The decree states: "Stálé úkryty se navrhují především jako zcela zapuštěné, s dvouúčelovým využitím" (permanent shelters are designed mainly as fully underground, with dual use) 1.
What do the STOÚ classes mean?
Pressure-resistant shelters carry a design resistance class. In the register shown on the Terinos map, the odolnost (resistance) field reads STOÚ_3, STOÚ_4 or STOÚ_5 2. You can check the class of any registered shelter near you: see public shelters. The official sources we consulted for this page do not give the pressure values behind each class, so we do not state them here.
How many people can a shelter hold?
Each shelter has a design capacity. Under § 15, that capacity may be exceeded by at most 20% if the situation requires 1.
What about improvised shelters?
§ 16 of the decree also provides for improvised shelters: suitable spaces in ordinary buildings, adapted when needed 1. They are how most of the population would be sheltered, and municipal offices are expected to keep records of them 2.
Do these standards apply to private home shelters?
No. Decree 380/2002 Sb. covers public shelters. No certification scheme for privately sold shelters was found 1. If you plan a home shelter, these requirements are a useful official reference, but the design and its approval go through a structural engineer and your local building office. See build a shelter in the Czech Republic.
Background reading: protection factor, shelter ventilation and NBC filtration.
Frequently asked questions
What is a STOÚ class?
The design resistance class of a pressure-resistant permanent shelter, shown as STOÚ_3, STOÚ_4 or STOÚ_5 in the odolnost field of the register 2.
Must a Czech public shelter be underground?
Permanent shelters are designed mainly as fully underground spaces 1.
Can more people use a shelter than its capacity?
Yes, by at most 20% if the situation requires (§ 15) 1.
Is there a certification for shelters sold to households?
No such scheme was found 1.
Sources
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR (Sbírka zákonů) — Vyhláška č. 380/2002 Sb., k přípravě a provádění úkolů ochrany obyvatelstva — https://www.zakonyprolidi.cz/cs/2002-380 (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Hasičský záchranný sbor Moravskoslezského kraje — Poskytnutí informací dle zákona č. 106/1999 Sb. (č. j. HSOS-546-2/2026) — https://hzscr.gov.cz/soubor/2026-01-26-poskytnuti-informaci-red-pdf.aspx (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
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Sources
- Ministerstvo vnitra ČR (Sbírka zákonů) · Vyhláška č. 380/2002 Sb., k přípravě a provádění úkolů ochrany obyvatelstva checked 2026-10-20
- Hasičský záchranný sbor Moravskoslezského kraje · Poskytnutí informací dle zákona č. 106/1999 Sb. (č. j. HSOS-546-2/2026) checked 2026-10-20