The Polish Sejm passed amendments to the civil defense law, providing funding for long-term investments including shelters from drones and natural disasters.
Drone Shelter Points Defined
The amendments establish a new category of “shelter points” distinct from collective protection facilities like bunkers and temporary shelters. These points will not be required to meet specific technical standards but must protect against “dangerous weather phenomena and the effects of conventional weapons, especially shrapnel.”
Local fire commanders will determine which facilities qualify as shelter points.
Government Rationale and Opposition Concerns
The Ministry of Interior and Administration (MSWiA) argued that shelter points are needed to ensure citizen safety even during peacetime, unlike temporary shelters created during wartime. Opposition lawmakers criticized the government, claiming the lack of technical standards could render the shelters unsafe.
Rejected Technical Standards Proposal
Lawmakers from the PiS party proposed an amendment requiring the Minister of Interior, in consultation with the Minister of Construction, to define technical standards for shelter points via regulation. The MSWiA rejected this proposal.
Focus on Existing Structures
Wiesław Leśniakiewicz, Deputy Minister of Interior and Administration, explained the approach focuses on designating existing buildings as shelter points rather than constructing new ones. He stated criteria for recognizing existing structures would be acceptable, but the proposed amendment’s scope was not.
Fire Department Assessment Criteria
Fire department officials, possessing expertise in rescue and firefighting operations, will assess potential shelter points. Senior Brigadier Sławomir Sierpatowski, Deputy Chief Commander of the PSP, explained that assessments will determine if a space is safe from hazards like fire and drone attacks.
Generally, spaces below ground level with sturdy ceilings and walls capable of protecting against weather and shrapnel will be classified as shelter points.
Additional Changes to Civil Defense Law
The amended law provides a legal basis for funding long-term investments and exempts certain expenditures from public procurement regulations, particularly those related to infrastructure for protective structures.
The law also clarifies the rules for commissioning tasks to civil protection entities and allows for the control of tasks assigned to legally recognized protection entities.
Temporary Shelter Regulations
Regulations for temporary shelters, to be established during wartime, are also updated. These shelters will be located in underground areas of public buildings and parking garages and designed to accommodate a minimum number of people based on available space.
The number of spaces will be capped at 75% of the net area divided by 1.5 square meters per person.
