Accident and fire prevention

One of the duties of rescue authorities is to prevent fires and other accidents. The provisions of the Rescue Act concerning accident prevention apply to public authorities and private individuals alike.

Fire safety of buildings

Buildings and their surroundings must be designed, built and maintained so that the risk of fire occurring or spreading is minor and so that it will be possible to carry out rescue operations in the event of an accident. Building and dwelling owners and occupants are required to keep the equipment specified by the authorities in working order at all times. The signs indicating escape routes and exits, security labels and the supplies in emergency shelters must be operational and appropriately serviced and inspected. Fireplaces and smoke flues must be swept, and ventilation ducts and devices must be serviced and cleaned regularly.

Self-preparedness

Owners and occupants of buildings, business entrepreneurs, government offices and agencies, and other organisations are obliged to prevent adverse incidents. The obligation to prevent accidents and adverse incidents applies to both the care of buildings and operations conducted in them. Readiness must also be maintained for protecting persons, property and the environment and undertaking rescue operations in the event of an adverse incident.

Households are required to make provision for various types of adverse incidents and for rescue operations for which they are independently capable. The aim is that people know how to take precautions and act at home and work in the event of a protracted disorder affecting society, such as a failure in the power, heating or water supply, or storm devastation. Homes should be stocked with several days' supply of food, any medication taken regularly, and other daily necessities. It is also a good idea to keep batteries readily available for use in the event of a power failure.

Duty of care, the universal duty to act, smoke detectors, exits from buildings, rescue routes…

Each person should act responsibly in situations where there is a risk of fire or other accident. The Rescue Act specifically mentions open fires, prescribed burning, fire safety in peat production areas, and the risk of forest fires. Each individual is obliged to take part in rescue operations in the event of a fire or other accident. Persons in danger should be warned and an emergency call made, and everyone should undertake rescue operations to the best of his or her ability. Smoke detectors are compulsory for each dwelling. Each occupant should install a smoke detector in the home. A smoke detector will detect a fire that is starting, at the earliest possible moment, and alert those in the living space. The exits and access routes of buildings must be kept serviceable and free of obstructions. Rescue routes intended for emergency vehicles must be usable, free of obstructions, and appropriately indicated.

Education and advice

Rescue departments must see to education and advice regarding rescue services. The purpose of these is to help people identify various causes of danger, prevent accidents, and act correctly in the event of an accident or impending danger. The aim is to make people recognise their own responsibility for developing and maintaining a safe environment.

Fire inspections

Fire inspections confirm that the inspected building, its surroundings, and the circumstances involving these are safe and that the property owner or occupant has made provision for preventing accidents and mitigating damage, and for civil defence. In residential buildings, fire inspections are performed at intervals determined by the service standard decision. In buildings in which personal or fire safety risk is greater than normal, fire inspections are performed annually or, when necessary, even more frequently. A fire inspector has the right to order that any deficiencies identified be rectified within a specific time or even immediately if this is deemed necessary.

Chimney sweeping

Fireplaces and smoke flues must be swept, and their condition must be inspected to make sure that any residue accumulating in them does not pose a fire risk. It is also important to provide instructions on the appropriate use of fireplaces. Fire safety rules and regulations, such as those concerning safe distances or clearances, must be taken into account when planning a fireplace.

Regional rescue services are in charge of arranging chimney sweeping services in their region. They can take care of chimney sweeping themselves or obtain these services from a private contractor. Building owners and occupants are responsible for ordering chimney sweeping services for the building regularly.

Page modified: 27.6.2006