Poland completes nationwide inventory of 85,000 protective structures

The State Fire Service has completed a nationwide inventory of protective structures in Poland, providing data and digital access for the year 2026. According to the report, there are 85,739 identified buildings and objects that can serve for civilian protection.

The inventory, commissioned by the Ministry of Interior and Administration, categorizes these locations into three types:

1. Shelters: Hermetic, structurally closed buildings designed to provide full protection against various harmful factors, including shock waves, radiation, and chemical substances. 2. Hiding places: Non-hermetic buildings equipped with basic protective installations against threats from specific directions. 3. Temporary shelter locations: The most numerous category, consisting of designated basements, underground garages, and tunnels.

Warsaw leads the country in the number and capacity of temporary shelter locations, followed by Kraków, Wrocław, Lublin, Poznań, and Łódź. Citizens can locate the nearest protective facility using the “Gdzie się ukryć” (Where to hide) mobile application and web service.