suojapaikka

Suojapaikka is a shelter or safe place intended to provide protection for people during dangerous situations such as armed conflict, natural hazards, fires, or hazardous environmental conditions. The term is used especially in Finnish civil defense and emergency management to describe a dedicated space within a building or a nearby location designated for refuge.

Typically a suojapaikka is a reinforced or specially designed space that offers protection from blast, debris, smoke, heat, and, in some cases, chemical or radiological threats. It may be a basement, a locked room with reinforced walls, or a purpose-built shelter connected to the building's structural design. It often includes basic life-support features such as ventilation, sealing options, and space for occupants to endure the initial danger period.

Access to a suojapaikka is normally controlled and clearly marked. In an emergency, occupants proceed to the shelter according to local guidance; shelters are intended for short-term refuge until dangers pass or protective measures are in place.

In Finland and other jurisdictions, suojapaikkoja are part of broader safety and preparedness planning and may be described in building regulations, civil defense guidelines, and evacuation plans.