Finland's Balconies: A Hidden Danger?
Translated from Finnish, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.
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- Thousands of apartment balconies in Finland may have unsafe railings due to the use of cement fiber boards.
- These boards have been found to break easily under impact, posing a risk of falls, with two fatal incidents linked to them since 2016.
- Despite previous warnings and recommendations, the use of these boards persists in older buildings, raising concerns about awareness and enforcement.
Concerns are mounting over the safety of thousands of apartment balconies across Finland, where outdated cement fiber boards in railings pose a significant risk. Toni Kekki, an expert at the Finnish Accident Investigation Board (Otkes), highlighted the visible safety flaws in many buildings.
The safety deficiencies of balconies are obvious in many houses.
The primary issue lies with cement fiber boards used in balcony railings, which have proven to be alarmingly fragile. Otkes began a thorough investigation after a woman died in a balcony fall last September. Tests revealed that these boards can break with surprisingly little force, even simulating the impact of a small child running into them.
This is not the first time Otkes has raised the alarm. A similar fatal incident occurred in 2016 when a woman fell from a fifth-floor balcony after a railing section made of cement fiber board broke. Otkes had then recommended against their use, yet they remain present in numerous buildings, particularly those constructed between the 1960s and 1980s that have undergone renovations.
The cement fiber board breaks with surprisingly little impact force.
Kekki estimates that tens of thousands of balconies nationwide may contain these boards, partly due to their cost-effectiveness compared to glass. He expressed concern that despite clear warnings and the issuance of inspection guidelines last year, there has been little reaction from the construction industry, housing associations, or the public. "It's a worrying situation that the message hasn't gotten through, and we need to understand why," he stated.
The test ball went through with ease.
While structural designer Tero Haapanen suggested that cement fiber boards can be used safely with proper installation, including smaller support spans and sufficient fasteners, the boards tested by Otkes appeared to have excessively large spans, leading to their easy breakage. The ongoing presence of these potentially dangerous railings underscores a critical gap in safety awareness and regulatory adherence.
cement fiber boards should not be used safely.
DistantNews Editorial
Originally published by Helsingin Sanomat in Finnish. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.
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