Sato bans use of fibre-cement balconies in Espoo

Property company Sato has banned the use of balconies containing fibre-cement boards in Espoo, according to reports by Ilta-Sanomat and Iltalehti.

A resident in Espoo’s Leppävaara district told Ilta-Sanomat they received a notice from Sato via their mailbox, with an additional notice posted in the building’s stairwell. The notice states the ban takes effect immediately.

Balconies will be inspected in the coming weeks, and residents may resume use once safety is confirmed.

The ban follows a May warning from the Safety Investigation Authority (Otkes) regarding fibre-cement boards used as fall protection in balconies. The warning came after a fatal accident in Helsinki’s Hietalahti in September 2025, when a woman fell through a balcony railing panel to the ground.

Otkes testing later revealed the fibre-cement board in the balcony was too weak to prevent falls. In May, housing companies and property owners were urged to verify the safety of balcony and terrace paneling.

Sato’s business director Arto Aalto said in May that the Otkes warning was being taken very seriously.