Overview
EN ISO 22359:2025 - adopted from ISO 22359:2024 - is a European guideline on security and resilience for the design, use and maintenance of hardened protective shelters. It provides non‑prescriptive guidance on shelter layout, structures, equipment and operational actions to isolate people, assets and critical functions from hazardous environments. This document is intended as guidance (not as minimum technical specifications) and excludes rapidly erected temporary shelters and military‑specific requirements.
Key topics
The standard covers practical, technical and managerial topics relevant to hardened shelter projects:
- Design process and criteria - hazard assessment, general parameters, shelter type/purpose and siting considerations.
- Shelter layout and sections - entrance/exit passages, living, service and technical sections to support occupant needs and resilience.
- Structural design - load calculations, considerations for bedrock and concrete shelters.
- HVAC and mechanical systems - ventilation, air conditioning, water supply and sewage for sealed or semi‑sealed operations.
- Electrical and electronic systems - power generation, external/internal communications, situational awareness and monitoring/control.
- Protection against EMC/IEMI - guidance on protection against intentional electromagnetic interference, EMP and HPM effects.
- Protective equipment - blast protection, gas tightness, penetration sealing, ground shock isolation, CBRN mitigation, CO₂ removal and oxygen replenishment measures.
- Safety and security - physical safety, access control and fire safety in hardened environments.
- Commissioning, use and maintenance - commissioning, sheltering cycles (activation, crisis use, deactivation), maintenance, modifications and life‑cycle considerations.
- Informative annexes - sheltering modes and example shelter types.
Practical applications
EN ISO 22359:2025 is useful for organisations planning or operating fixed hardened shelters that must maintain life support and critical functions during disasters, industrial incidents or attacks. Typical applications include:
- Civil protection and emergency management facilities
- Continuity‑of‑operations (COOP) or business continuity shelters for critical infrastructure
- Public shelter planning at local, regional and national level
- Design and retrofitting of permanent hardened facilities
Who should use it
- Local, regional and national governments and civil protection agencies
- First responders and emergency planners
- Architects, structural and MEP designers, construction contractors and equipment suppliers
- Facility managers responsible for commissioning, operations and maintenance
Related information
- Prepared by ISO/TC 292 “Security and resilience” and adopted by CEN/TC 391.
- The document is guidance only; it does not specify exact dimensional, material or performance minimums - consult national regulations and relevant technical standards when implementing EN ISO 22359:2025.
For implementation questions, contact your national standards body or review the full EN ISO 22359:2025 publication.