Shelter construction
The German Shelter Center (DSZ) is your contact for the private construction of bunkers in Germany. Our service areas are divided into:
Shelter Advice
Shelter planning
Sales of shelter components
Assembly of shelter components
We offer our customers a safe haven within their own four walls.
Construction of bunkers and shelters
Structure and components
Shelters, nuclear shelters and air raid shelters essentially consist of a thick reinforced concrete shell, the entrances and exits of which are secured with special, armored doors.
To ensure a safe air supply, the shelters are equipped with a special ventilation system with a gas filter, which can be operated both electrically and manually in an emergency.
Shelters are also equipped with an emergency exit in case the exit via the shelter door is blocked.
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Shelter cover
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made of reinforced concrete
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Shelter lock
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Armoured door (PT)
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Pressure door (DT)
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Toilet cubicle with dry toilet
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Shelter ventilation system
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Explosion protection valve with pre-filter (air inlet)
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Overpressure / explosion protection valve (air outlet)
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fan
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Gas filter (activated carbon filter)
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Emergency exit
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Armoured cover (PD)
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beds
Components of a shelter
Legal requirements
In 2007, the German federal government, in agreement with the states, decided to finally abandon the construction and maintenance of public shelters and not to promote them any further. [41]
Since then, the German Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance (BBK) has not issued any legal requirements or approvals for the construction of shelters in Germany.
German Shelter Center
Since there is currently no legal framework for the construction of shelters in Germany, the German Shelter Center (DSZ) plans the shelter facilities according to the current, long-standing, tried and tested technical instructions for the mandatory construction of shelters (TWP 1984) of the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection.
Shelter construction
The construction of shelters can be divided into the following categories:
Construction of a shelter within a building during house construction
Construction of a shelter outside an existing building
Conversion of an existing room into a shelter
Construction of a new bunker / shelter within a building during house construction
The most cost-effective option for building a fully-fledged shelter in your own home is to plan for the shelter as a separate “basement compartment” during the shell construction of the new building.
Since the exterior basement walls of the new building will be concreted anyway, the walls in the shelter area can be made thicker without much additional effort.
At the same time, the other shelter walls, the armored door, the armored cover with emergency exit, and the necessary wall penetrations can be planned and concreted in.
Before the basement ceiling/shelter ceiling is concreted, the armored door, the pressure door, and the armored cover can be filled with concrete. The advantage of this is that the armored door (200 kg when not concreted in) can be positioned and installed directly in the basement using the construction crane.
The shelter (class I) is thus located directly in the basement of the house and can be used as a basement compartment or as a safe storage place in peacetime.
Single-family house with shelter in the basement
With our help, any basement construction company can build a shelter
A shelter integrated into a new building is the most common, simplest, and most cost-effective option for constructing a fully-fledged shelter in the basement.
Customers often already have an architect and a construction company to build the house. However, most construction companies and architects have no experience in planning and building shelters.
For this reason, we offer specialist planning and consulting services for local trades. With our shelter design, planning, and support, as well as the necessary shelter components, any basement construction company can build a shelter for you.
Costs for an integrated shelter in a new building
The cost of an integrated shelter as part of a new building depends on the shelter variant (Basic, Classic, Premium) and the desired features (airlock, emergency exits, escape tunnel, filter chamber, etc.). Below is an example calculation for a Basic shelter for nine people:
Cost calculation
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Shelter planning
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Shelter dimensioning (calculation of the required wall thickness)
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Object-related drawing creation (draft plan, working plan)
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Consulting and construction supervision
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Shelter components
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Armored door with self-release device
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Armored cover
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Supply and exhaust air ducts as well as water and electrical feed-throughs
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Shelter ventilation system including explosion protection valves
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Dry toilet with toilet cubicle
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Shelter beds
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Import, customs clearance, and delivery
From €20,000 incl. VAT
Additional costs incurred on site for stronger steel reinforcement, thicker concrete walls and ceilings, and the installation of an armored door and armored cover must also be taken into account. The additional costs incurred on site are in the region of €15,000 and also depend on the size of the shelter.
Accordingly, the total additional costs for the construction of a small basic shelter for 9 people are in the range of €35,000 and up.
Basic shelter type
New construction of a shelter/bunker outside an existing building
Building a shelter outside an existing building is significantly more complex and expensive (>€100,000) than building a shelter as part of the house construction, as a completely new structure has to be erected.
A building permit for the construction of a basement is usually required to implement the building project. The excavation pit can then be dug and the shelter concreted and erected.
The costs for the shelter components are similar to those for an integrated shelter. However, the construction costs are significantly higher.
Alternatively, our prefabricated bunkers can be used for the retroactive construction of shelters.
If you want to build a fully equipped shelter in your existing house/building in accordance with Swiss standards, shelters can be created by adding extensions to the basement.
Alternatively, it is possible to build a shelter on the property independently of existing buildings. The new building can be constructed in the garden, for example, or can also be used as the foundation for a garage.
Video on installing a PT1 armored door
Conversion of a room into a shelter
Conversion of a basement into a shelter
This is the case if you want to build a bunker/shelter in your existing house/building and no additional extension or new building is possible on the property.
The difficulty with retrofitting a basement conversion is transporting the very heavy shelter components into the existing basement and installing them there. In most cases, it is not possible to transport the bulky standard PT1 armored door, weighing 200 kg, into the basement. In addition, the existing basement walls are not sufficiently dimensioned to meet the requirements of a basic shelter.
If basic shelters cannot be built, makeshift shelters offer an alternative.
In a makeshift shelter, an existing basement room is reinforced and converted into a shelter. The weakest points in the basement are the doors and windows. The doors of existing basements are rarely gas-tight and offer no protection against explosion pressure waves. Window glazing poses a particularly high risk. Even low pressure loads can cause window panes to burst, sending glass shards flying into the room.
In a Class III makeshift shelter, wall openings (windows/doors) are reinforced with special protective flaps and shelter doors so that, in the event of an attack, the occupants of the shelter are protected from pressure waves and (glass) splinters and, in combination with a ventilation system, from nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare agents.
In a Class II makeshift shelter, walls and ceilings are also reinforced.
Video: Presentation of the protective flap
The doors for makeshift shelters (class 3) are usually replaced with gas-tight, pressure-resistant steel sheet doors. For dual use of the shelter as a panic room, these doors can also be designed and installed to be burglar-resistant (RC1 - RC6) and bullet-resistant (FB1-FB7).
If a higher level of protection is desired, interior walls can be built with concrete formwork blocks and ceilings can be reinforced with supports (Class 2). In most cases, pressure doors and armored covers are installed, which offer better protection against radioactive radiation as well as conventional and secondary weapon effects.
Peacetime
In peacetime, the cover is in the open position, allowing the window to be used as normal.
Times of crisis
In the event of disasters or attacks, the light well can be filled with sandbags and the cover closed. The cover can optionally be equipped with a connection for an ABC ventilation system, which allows outside air to be drawn in and filtered. The cover thus offers protection against pressure waves, (glass) splinters and, in combination with a ventilation system, against nuclear, biological, and chemical warfare agents.
If the building is (partially) damaged by external influences, so that people may no longer be able to leave the basement, the cover can be opened, the sandbags removed, and the building exited via the light well (emergency exit).
Schutzklappe für den Umbau von Kellern zu Schutzräumen und Behelfschutzräumen
Schutzklappe für den Umbau von Kellern zu Schutzräumen
Schutzklappe für den Umbau von Kellern zu Schutzräumen
Schutzklappe für den Umbau von Kellern zu Schutzräumen und Behelfschutzräumen
Protective flap with ventilation system
Costs for converting the basement into a shelter
The cost of converting basements into temporary shelters depends heavily on local conditions and accessibility. Below is an example calculation for converting a basement into a Class III temporary shelter:
Cost calculation
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Shelter planning and project management
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Measurements and drawings of the required parts
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Shelter components
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Explosion-resistant, burglar-proof steel door
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Protective flap for window reinforcement
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Shelter ventilation system including explosion protection valve
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Dry toilet with toilet cubicle
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Shelter beds
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Delivery
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Professional installation and commissioning
From €35,000 incl. VAT
In the case of a Class II makeshift shelter, the walls and ceilings are also reinforced. Additional costs may apply depending on the measures required. We will determine the necessary measures based on your protection goals and develop a customized plan.
Steel door for shelters
Overview of protection classes
Conversion of an existing room into a shelter
The following table provides an overview of the scope of protection and the construction methods used for shelters and temporary shelters:
Overview of shelter classes
The table shows that the basic shelter offers the best level of protection compared to makeshift shelters. Converting a room into a makeshift shelter with a special door, ventilation system with gas filter, and sealed windows provides significantly better protection than a conventional basement.
The costs depend heavily on the specific circumstances and the desired level of protection.
No house construction without a shelter
In principle, the construction of a shelter/bunker should be considered for every house construction project. This is a unique opportunity to build a shelter with full protection in an uncomplicated and cost-effective manner.
The cost of building an integrated home shelter as part of a new build depends on the size of the shelter and ranges from around €35,000. The cost of retrofitting a basement is often more expensive and only possible with a reduced level of protection.
Shelter planning
The shelters and bunkers are planned, measured and dimensioned by the German Shelter Center (DSZ) according to the current technical instructions for the construction and dimensioning of shelter structures (TWK 2017) of the Swiss Federal Office for Civil Protection.
The shelter planning can be divided into the following steps:
Initial concept taking into account the circumstances
Dimensioning and design of the required wall thicknesses
Detailed planning of the shelter according to Swiss directive TWP 1984
Static calculation of the shelter according to Swiss directive TWK 2017
The Swiss Directive for the Construction and Dimensioning of Shelter Structures (TWK 2017) deals with the construction and dimensioning of protective structures taking into account the effects of nuclear, chemical and biological weapons as well as the collateral effects of conventional weapons.
The protective structures/nuclear shelters must provide protection against the effects of modern weapons. The main hazard here is the mechanical effects (air blast, earth blast) of nuclear weapons at a distance from the explosion center at which an air blast of 100 kN/m² (1 bar) is released.
The design against nuclear radiation determines the component thicknesses required to protect against primary radiation. The component thicknesses determined in this way also ensure protection against other weapon effects such as:
Nuclear radiation due to radioactive fallout
Mechanical impacts from splinters and vibrations
Fire effects
Effects of chemical warfare agents (tightness of the protective shell)
Air blast propagation of a nuclear explosion with blast point on the ground (TW Schock 2021)
The required thickness of the reinforced concrete walls and ceilings of shelters/nuclear bunkers depends on the individual circumstances.
For Class 1 nuclear shelters/shelter structures, the minimum component thickness of the shelter shell must not be less than:
• 30 cm minimum ceiling thickness
• 30 cm minimum external wall thickness
Required ceiling thickness for shelter structures under buildings (TWK 2017)
Based on the detailed planning, the static calculation of the shelter can be carried out in accordance with the Technical Instruction TWK 2017, taking the building's statics into account. The German Shelter Center is working with an engineering firm that specializes, among other things, in the structural planning of shelters.
We will provide you with the detailed planning with the static calculation of your shelter, reinforcement sketches, position/overview sketches, reinforcement plans and steel lists for statics.
Upkeep and maintenance of a shelter
The owners of a private bunker/shelter usually carry out simple maintenance work themselves. This includes, for example, cleaning the shelter and its components.
The following video illustrates the maintenance work.
Video on maintaining a shelter
Shelter maintenance
6 steps to your own bunker / shelter
1.
Advice
Simply contact us using the contact form and receive non-binding and discreet advice for your own shelter. We will find out about your individual requirements and wishes.
Based on this, we can provide you with an offer for the necessary shelter components and shelter planning.
2.
Concept development and detailed planning
When planning the shelter, an individual shelter concept is created for you. Based on your building floor plan, we plan a cost-effective arrangement of the shelter shell and position the shelter components in a sensible arrangement. The planning takes place in direct consultation between us and your architect .
We will design your shelter according to the latest Swiss standards for mandatory shelter construction (TWP), taking into account conventional, nuclear, chemical, biological and secondary weapon effects.
You will then receive the technical drawings and dimensioned floor plans for your shelter.
3.
Static calculation
The planned shelter can then be statically calculated by our structural engineer Dipl. Ing. (Univ.) taking the building's statics into account in accordance with the current Swiss directive TWK2017.
The calculation is based on the risk of mechanical effects (air blast, earth tremor) from nuclear weapons in the load case 100 kN/m² , protection against primary radiation, nuclear radiation due to radioactive fallout, mechanical effects due to splinters and vibrations, fire effects and chemical warfare agents.
You will also receive position/overview/reinforcement sketches with reinforcement plans and steel lists for your individual construction project.
4.
Delivery of shelter components
All necessary components for the shelter construction are tested, packaged and shipped in Switzerland.
The shelter components are then delivered directly to the installation site by a shipping company on the desired date, following direct consultation.
5.
Concrete work and installation of wall components
Based on the floor plans and specifications we provide, a construction company of your choice can form and concrete the shelter shell with finishes.
We provide the construction company with appropriate installation instructions and assembly videos for setting and concreting the armored door and armored cover.
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Assembly of the shelter components
As soon as the shell and electrical system are completed, all other components such as the ventilation system, toilet cubicles, berths, etc. can be assembled and installed.
The components can be installed either by one of our fitters , a local fitter of your choice or, depending on your technical skills, by you yourself. You will also receive comprehensive installation instructions from us.