Malbork begins construction of Poland's first new civil defense shelters

Construction has begun on the first new shelters in Malbork, Poland, as part of the national Population Protection and Civil Defense program. Two prefabricated, single-story reinforced concrete structures are being built to provide high resistance to shockwaves of up to 10 tons per square meter. One facility near Primary School No. 3 is expected to be completed by the end of November and will accommodate over 150 people. A second underground shelter is being constructed at the County Headquarters of the State Fire Service.

The initiative comes amid broader discussions regarding Poland's protective infrastructure. A report from the Supreme Audit Office (NIK) previously indicated that a significant majority of inspected shelters and hiding places in the country were in unsatisfactory condition. To address the need for large-scale, rapid deployment of protective structures, the Polish startup ARX Modular is developing a modular construction platform. The company aims to provide standardized, mass-produced prefabricated elements that can be configured for various civilian and military needs, addressing the current shortage of specialized infrastructure and capacity.