Private bomb shelters must disappear

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Anyone who built a single-family home in 2012 also had to set up a shelter there – with sleeping places, a dry toilet and ventilation. As a result, there are about 100,000 homes in Switzerland with such bomb shelters. Still.

Because, as Radio SRF reported on Friday, the federal government and the cantons want to abolish these shelters. According to the “Protective Structures Concept”, which has not yet been published, shelters with less than seven places should be abolished.

Too small for emergencies

There are two reasons for this: first, the ventilation systems now need to be replaced – many are over 40 years old. But that wouldn’t be worth it, as Urs Marti, president of the Conference of Cantonal Civil Protection Officers, confirmed to Radio SRF. It is simply too expensive, most of these ventilation units are no longer made.

Secondly – ​​and more importantly – private civil defense shelters have a major disadvantage: in a disaster, people would be scattered and not easily accessible. “These shelters are difficult to manage in the event of an incident. Civil protection cannot cover such a large number,” says Marti. In larger systems with 25 to 50 seats, this is much easier.

Places must be created first

However, it may be several years before homeowners can finally use their shelters solely as wine cellars or hobby rooms: as the “Every resident has a shelter” principle still applies, new spaces must first be created in larger facilities for the hundreds of thousands become homeowners.

For example, the intention is to expand command centers or other civil defense systems. “You can only do without the little shelters if there’s enough space,” says Marti. The Bundesrat and parliament may also have to give their approval in advance.

Owners of apartment buildings and other properties, on the other hand, face additional costs. Today, shelters are only needed for new buildings with 38 rooms or more. In the future, the government in all municipalities should also be allowed to prescribe exceptionally for smaller new-build homes. (sf)

Source:Blick