palvelutila

Palvelutila is a Finnish term used in building design and facility management to describe a space dedicated to service functions that support the operation of a building or its services. The word combines palvella (to serve) and tila (space). The concept covers rooms and areas intended for maintenance, repair, cleaning, storage of supplies, and equipment that is not part of the public or customer-facing areas.

In practice, palvelutila includes technical rooms such as boiler or mechanical rooms, electrical switchgear rooms, telecom or data equipment rooms, janitorial closets, cleaning supply storage, and service corridors. These spaces are typically located so as not to be visible to occupants or customers, but are accessible to authorized staff. They are designed with appropriate safety, ventilation, accessibility, and security considerations and are sized according to the equipment and tasks they serve.

In residential and commercial buildings, palvelutila helps separate service operations from public spaces, contributing to building maintenance efficiency and safety. The exact definition and scope can vary by project and country; some organisations distinguish between tekninen tila (technical room), huoltotila (maintenance room), and siivousto/välinevarasto (janitorial storage), while using palvelutila as a general umbrella term.

See also: tekninen tila, huoltotila, siivousto/siivousvarasto, utility room.