Kazakhstan has approved regulations for equipping shelters for the population protection. The new standard covers basements, underground parking lots, and other subterranean spaces, according to the press service of the Ministry of Trade and Integration of Kazakhstan.
In Kazakhstan, a new standard for shelters in case of emergencies has come into effect from January 1, 2026, establishing requirements for adapting basements, parking lots, and other underground premises for population protection. It was developed by KazStandard at the request of the Ministry of Emergency Situations.
The document is aimed at improving the level of safety and preparedness for emergencies.
In global practice, subterranean premises, including basements, ground floors, underground passages, and subways, are widely used for population protection. In Kazakhstan, such spaces can also be adapted for civil defense protective structures.
The new standard eliminates a regulatory gap and introduces uniform requirements for shelters. It defines the procedure for inspecting buildings and adapting them for population protection during emergencies of natural, man-made, and military nature.
The document establishes requirements for structures and room layouts, as well as for life support systems. These include ventilation, water supply, electricity supply, sanitary conditions, and communications.
The adoption of the standard allows for the formation of a unified approach to the use of subterranean premises and will increase the level of population protection in emergency situations.
