Child’s impact could break balconies in tens of thousands of homes

Balcony railing panels could break when hit by a child aged between three and six, according to tests by Finland’s Safety Investigation Authority, Yle reports. The Environment Ministry has urged municipalities to identify potentially dangerous balconies, but building control authorities say its guidance is unclear.

The panels are made of cement fibre and may be present in tens of thousands of homes, according to Kurt Kokko, a director at the Safety Investigation Authority. The authority has warned of potentially dangerous balconies throughout Finland.

Property owners are responsible

Property owners are responsible for ensuring that balconies are safe and for commissioning any necessary assessments, said Juliana Kemppi, head of building control in Lahti.

Building control authorities must intervene if dangerous structures are not repaired, but they do not inspect balconies on behalf of housing companies.

“If there are shortcomings in safety, owners have a duty to begin repairing the balconies quickly,” Kemppi said.

Repairs should not be carried out without expert advice. Owners facing problems are advised to contact building control authorities and ensure that contractors have the necessary expertise.

Building control authorities must prohibit the use of a balcony if a housing company does not repair a dangerous structure. They also inform property owners about risks identified by the Safety Investigation Authority or other bodies.

Risk balconies are difficult to identify

The Safety Investigation Authority examined cement fibre panels after a fatal accident in Helsinki in autumn 2025. A person fell from an apartment building balcony through a railing panel.

“Panels like those on the balcony involved in the accident are intended for facades, not balconies, so the result was not surprising,” Kokko said.

The Environment Ministry has urged authorities to ensure that people involved in construction projects check the safety of cement fibre panels. Kemppi said it was easier to monitor new and ongoing construction than to find dangerous balconies in older buildings.

Building control authorities do not have comprehensive records of all buildings, nor lists of all housing companies or businesses with these types of balconies. The type of structure cannot be seen from the street, meaning each balcony would have to be inspected on site.

“Rapidly mapping the risk balconies and monitoring them effectively is impossible,” Kemppi said.

As a result, information about the risks may not reach all housing companies and property owners.

Municipalities seek clearer instructions

Kemppi said the Environment Ministry’s letter was unclear. She said the required measures should be clarified immediately to improve safety and prevent responsibility issues from being left unresolved.

It should also be made clear which body is responsible for communicating the risks, how widely the information should be distributed and when.

Kemppi referred to a 2013 accident at an indoor riding arena in Laukaa, where a child died and four people were injured. Finland’s Supreme Court sentenced the chief building inspector to 30 day-fines for failing to act on the basis of a message from the ministry.

Pirjo Siren, a director at Kuntaliitto, a municipal organisation, said the ministry’s letter had caused concern and confusion among building control authorities across Finland.

“Municipal building control authorities want to do their work properly, and their observations must be taken seriously,” Siren said. “Safety and questions of responsibility are important, and the matter will certainly be discussed among the various parties.”

Ministry responds to criticism

Jyrki Kauppinen, head of a unit at the Environment Ministry, said the ministry could not give building control authorities detailed instructions because they operate independently.

“The duties of building control are defined in the Building Act. In some municipalities, authorities have published notices in situations like this and sent requests for information to building owners,” Kauppinen said.