Emergency plan provides guidance on risk management
Under the Rescue Act, an emergency plan must be drawn up for residential buildings with at least three residential apartments. The board of directors of the housing company is responsible for drawing up the emergency plan. The residents must be informed of the emergency plan.
The Ministry of the Interior is currently working on a project to prepare instructions for emergency plans and for the deployment, use, maintenance and inspections of civil defence shelters.
Emergency plan is practical tool for housing companies
An emergency plan is drawn up for the residents and users of the building, not for public authorities. It provides the residents and users with information on how to prevent fires and other dangerous situations in their own housing company. The emergency plan also explains how the building is used safely and what to do in the event of danger.
In residential buildings, drawing up an emergency plan and keeping it up to date is one element of individual emergency planning. The aim is to support the identification of risks, safety measures and preparedness for dealing with incidents and accidents.
Individual emergency planning is required by law
The Rescue Act imposes obligations on building owners, residents and operators. They must
- prevent fires and other dangerous situations
- prepare for the protection of people and property in the event of danger
- prepare for extinguishing fires and taking other such rescue actions which they are capable of performing independently.
These responsibilities are referred to as individual emergency planning. In practice, individual emergency planning means the assessment of dangers and risks and systematic risk management. The measures and practices are recorded in the emergency plan.