Fire departments in Finland to increase inspection fees significantly following new guidelines

Fire departments in Finland will soon be able to significantly increase the fees charged for fire inspections. National guidelines for regulatory fees have been updated, allowing for billing based on all aspects of the inspection process, from planning to the actual visit and the final written decision. Previously, departments could only charge for the time spent on the inspection itself, which averaged around two hours.

In the Päijät-Häme region, the local council will soon review a proposal that outlines the new basis for inspection fees. According to Marjo Oksanen, Head of Risk Management at the Päijät-Häme Fire Department, the anticipated costs for some inspections may rise to three times the current fee.

Oksanen is part of a working group responsible for drafting the new fee structure. Inspections defined by law include fire safety checks of properties and may also occur if an automatic fire alarm system triggers false alarms frequently. While the current average charge for an inspection is about €120, this could increase to between €400 and €500 in the future. Oksanen acknowledges that this price hike will have a notable impact on small businesses.

The frequency of inspections will depend on risk assessments, with visits occurring anywhere from once a year to once every ten years. Importantly, if a business maintains excellent fire safety practices and receives no correction orders during an inspection, the fire department may reduce the interval between inspections.