Short answer. Decree 532/2006 Z. z. sets the technical requirements for Slovak civil protection shelters: hardened shelters (odolné úkryty) for a stay of at least 5 days, gas-tight shelters (plynotesné úkryty) for at least 2 days, and simple self-help shelters adapted from suitable rooms 1. Shelters must be within 500 m of the people they protect 1.
What types of shelter does Slovak law define?
| Type | Main requirements 1 |
|---|---|
| Hardened shelter (odolný úkryt) | Resists external static and dynamic loads; gas-tight; filtered air supply of 2.5-5.0 m³ per person per hour; long stay of at least 5 days; drinking water 3 L per person per day; 2,000 L per day of decontamination water per unit; diesel generator; monolithic or prefabricated reinforced concrete only; entrances 1.4 times as resistant as the shelter |
| Gas-tight shelter (plynotesný úkryt) | Gas-tight; filtered air supply of 2.8-3.9 m³ per person per hour; short stay of at least 2 days; drinking water 3 L per person per day; 2,000 L per day of decontamination water per unit; filter-ventilation, sanitary, telecom and position-signalling equipment |
| Simple shelter built by self-help (JÚBS) | Suitable underground or above-ground spaces adapted after an emergency is declared or in wartime, under shelter plans; partial protection against radiation and hazardous substances; adequate structure, ventilation and sealing |
Where must shelters be located?
Protective structures are placed where people are most concentrated, within 500 m walking distance, and at least 100 m from tanks of volatile toxic substances (§ 4(2)) 1.
How much air and water does a shelter need?
The figures in the decree are per person 1:
- Air: 2.5-5.0 m³ per hour in a hardened shelter; 2.8-3.9 m³ per hour in a gas-tight shelter, through filtered supply.
- Drinking water: 3 litres per person per day in both types.
- Decontamination water: 2,000 litres per day per unit.
Note that the shelter drinking-water figure (3 L) is lower than the household guidance of 3-5 L, and the 4 L blackout figure, in the ministry's crisis guide: see emergency supplies. Background: shelter ventilation, NBC filtration and how much water per person.
Who applies these rules?
The requirements apply in land-use planning and when designing, siting and permitting civil protection facilities; maintenance follows an annual plan (§ 4(1), § 15) 1. This is not a product certification scheme for private shelters 1. The Interior Ministry's Crisis Management Section oversees civil protection 2.
Does this apply to my home shelter?
Not as an obligation. Slovakia sets no specific rule for private household shelters: see build a shelter. The decree remains the official reference for what a shelter is expected to do, and a structural engineer can use it as a benchmark. Phaenyx gives no construction instructions. See also protection factor.
Frequently asked questions
How long must a Slovak hardened shelter support its occupants?
At least 5 days. A gas-tight shelter is designed for at least 2 days 1.
What is a JÚBS?
A simple shelter built by self-help: an existing space adapted after an emergency is declared or in wartime, giving partial protection against radiation and hazardous substances 1.
Is there a certified "Slovak standard" shelter for sale?
The decree is not a product certification scheme for private shelters 1.
How close must a shelter be?
Within 500 m walking distance of the people it protects 1.
Sources
- Slov-Lex, Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR — Vyhláška MV SR č. 532/2006 Z. z. o podrobnostiach na zabezpečenie stavebnotechnických požiadaviek a technických podmienok zariadení civilnej ochrany (znenie od 1. 1. 2013) — https://static.slov-lex.sk/static/SK/ZZ/2006/532/20130101.html (accessed 2026-10-20)
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia — Civilná ochrana — https://www.minv.sk/?Civilna_ochrana (accessed 2026-10-20)
Turn this into action
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- Phaenyx Safe: one tap to tell your people you are safe
Sources
- Slov-Lex, Ministerstvo spravodlivosti SR · Vyhláška MV SR č. 532/2006 Z. z. o podrobnostiach na zabezpečenie stavebnotechnických požiadaviek a technických podmienok zariadení civilnej ochrany (znenie od 1. 1. 2013) checked 2026-10-20
- Ministerstvo vnútra Slovenskej republiky, Sekcia krízového riadenia · Civilná ochrana checked 2026-10-20