Firm behind Tikkurila balcony glass begins internal probe

The company that installed the glass railing on the fatal Tikkurila balcony, Alutec, has launched an internal investigation, its CEO Kari Salonsaari told Yle.

A man in his 30s died on Midsummer Eve after falling through the balcony’s glass panel. Police are treating the incident as an accident.

Alutec said it has been in contact with the main contractor, property manager, and authorities. “We are deeply shocked by this accident, and our sympathies are with the family of the deceased,” Salonsaari wrote in an email.

Such railing systems are common in Finland and designed to withstand normal impacts and leaning, according to Salonsaari. He noted that railings, like all building components, require regular inspection and maintenance, with periodic professional checks.

“For glass railings, check that the panels are not touching each other and that there are no cracks, chips, or scratches—ensure the glass is intact,” he said.

Alutec, based in Ylivieska with offices in Tampere, Vantaa, and Oulu, specialises in aluminium and glass construction, including balcony and terrace glazing.

The building’s balconies were last inspected in early June. Some required repairs, but none warranted a usage ban.

On Tuesday, the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes) told Yle it would investigate whether the balcony railing met current standards.