Experts advise temporary plywood shielding for unsafe balconies

Finnish housing companies are being urged to immediately inspect balcony safety with expert help, as thousands remain closed after recent falls, Yle reports.

Inari Weijo, a board member of the Facade Association and head of Ramboll’s renovation construction unit, told Yle that property owners bear primary responsibility for building safety. She advised swift action to identify risks and engage specialists.

Structural engineers and condition inspectors can assess whether protective panels—glass or otherwise—and their fixings meet safety standards, Weijo noted.

Jani Kemppainen, a construction industry expert, said residents can temporarily secure a balcony by placing a plywood sheet inside the railing if delays occur. However, he stressed that visual checks alone cannot confirm safety; each case requires individual examination of plans, compliance, and potential damage.

Weijo attributed the safety issues to inadequate regulations and guidance. Kemppainen added that while Finnish construction typically follows safe standards, balconies have proven an exception.

New Europe-wide Eurocode standards for load-bearing structures, including balconies, take effect next year. The Safety Investigation Authority recommended updated balcony regulations in 2016 after a fatal fall from a fifth-floor balcony due to a failed panel.