G1 THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND
Housing Design
Regulations and Guidelines 2005
Ministry of the Environment Decree
on housing design
adopted in Helsinki on the 1st of October 2004
In accordance with the Ministry of the Environment decision, the following regulations and guidelines
on housing design, applicable to construction, shall be enacted under Section 13 of the Land Use and
Building Act (132/1999) adopted on the 5th of February 1999.
The regulations and guidelines have been notified in accordance with Directive 98/34/EC, amended
98/48/EC.
This Decree shall enter into force on the 1st of March 2005 and it shall reverse the Ministry of the
Environment decision of the 17th of December 1993 on housing design (G1). However, previous regula-
tions and instructions may be applied to permit applications initiated before this Decree entered into
force.
In Helsinki on the 1st of October 2004
Minister Jan-Erik Enestam
Director General Jouni J. Särkijärvi
G1 MINISTRY OF THE ENVIRONMENT, Department of Housing
and Building
THE NATIONAL BUILDING CODE OF FINLAND
Housing Design
REGULATIONS AND GUIDELINES 2005
CONTENTS
1 GENERAL
1.1 Objectives of adaptation
2 HABITABLE ROOM
2.1 Minimum size and shape
2.2 Minimum height
2.3 Windows
2.4 Relationship to the surrounding buildings and to the environment
2.5 Relationship of the floor to the ground
3 APARTMENT
3.1 Minimum size
3.2 Facilities and fittings
3.3 Doors and passages
4 BUILDINGS, SITES AND
BUILDING PLOTS
4.1 Floor height
4.2 Routes
4.3 Other facilities, structures and areas
LEGEND
Regulations in this column in this large font size are binding.
Guidelines in the right column in a small font size contain
approved solutions.
Explanations in the right column in italics provide further
information and contain references to statutes, regulations
and instructions.
1
GENERAL
Section 117(3) of the Land Use and Building Act
A building must conform with its purpose and be capable
of being repaired, maintained and altered, and, in
so far as its use requires, also be suitable for people whose
capacity to move or function is limited.
Section 51(1 and 2) of the Land Use and Building Decree:
It is specially important that the location of a residential
building and the arrangement of its spaces and other
planning of dwellings take environmental factors and natu-
ral circumstances into account. Sufficient natural light
shall be provided for residential rooms.
Space intended for residential use shall be fit for the
purpose, pleasant and comfortable. The design of dwellings
shall promote the functionality and suitability of
residential space for different and changing residential
needs.
Section 52(1) of the Land Use and Building Decree:
- - -The requirements for dwelling design concerning resi-
dential rooms shall be observed in the design of work
space, as appropriate. - - -
Section 53(2) of the Land Use and Building Decree:
Taking into account its design and the number of storeys
and other circumstances, a residential building and associ-
ated spaces shall meet the requirements for accessibility in
building.
Section 125(4) of the Land Use and Building Act:
- - - Alteration of intended use requiring a permit includes
altering a holiday home so that it is fit for permanent resi-
dence. - - -
1.1 Objectives of adaptation
1.1.1 Regulation
Regulations and guidelines concern residential buildings as well as sites and building plots for these. Regula-
tions and guidelines also concern apartments and habitable rooms in other buildings as well as other spaces and
areas serving these, used for housing.
Regulations and guidelines shall concern the change of intended use of a holiday home to a permanent resi-
dence.
Explanation
It is possible to build a holiday home, only intended for
summer use, deviating from the statutes imposed on
residential buildings concerning, for instance, energy
economy.
In these regulations and instructions, a walking frame
with wheels shall refer to a walking aid with four or
three wheels (also the terms rollator and wheeled
walker are used).
In these regulations and guidelines references made to
a toilet shall also concern toilet and washroom facili-
ties, an earth closet and a closet based on a chemical or
similar system.
These regulations and instructions shall also concern buildings intended for all-year use in accommodation busi-
ness.
Guidelines
A habitable room is a room primarily intended to be
used constantly for living. For instance, a hall, corridor,
bathroom or any such room is not regarded as a habit-
able room.
A kitchen is a habitable room primarily intended for
food preparation and eating. An apartment may also
have another space intended for food preparation instead
of a kitchen.
A multi-storey apartment block is a residential building
with at least two storeys, consisting of several apart-
ments where facilities in different apartments are one on
top of the other.
In this document a one-family house refers to other than
multi-storey houses, i.e. detached, semi-detached and
terraced houses.
A net room area is an area of a room where the wall sur-
faces surrounding the room or their given extension are
the boundaries.
A net floor area is an area defined on one hand by the
wall surfaces surrounding the apartment and on the other
hand by the surfaces of load-bearing walls inside the
apartment and the surfaces on the apartment side of
other structural elements necessary in a building.
A room height is the vertical dimension from the floor
surface of a room to its ceiling surface.
A floor height is the vertical distance of two floor sur-
faces one upon the other.
2
HABITABLE ROOM
2.1 Minimum size and shape
2.1.1 Regulation
The size and shape of a habitable room should be appropriate taking into account the intended use of the room
and its furnishability. However, the minimum net room area of a habitable room should always be 7 m2.
A space lower than 1600 mm is not included in the net room area.
2.2 Minimum height
2.2.1 Regulation
The minimum room height of a habitable room should be 2500 mm. The said minimum height in a one-family
house is 2400 mm. The room height of a small part in a habitable room may be even less than that referred to
previously, however, not below 2200 mm.
If the ceiling of a room deviates from the horizontal, the room height is determined as an average height of the
net room area.
2.3 Windows
2.3.1 Regulation
A habitable room should have a window with an opening of at least 1/10 of the net room area. The location and
any other arrangement of the window should be appropriate in respect of light and a pleasant environment. The
window in a room or a part of the window should be openable.
A window in a habitable room should be in direct contact with the open air. However, natural light to some of
the habitable rooms in an apartment may be arranged through another space defined by a luminous cover or
some other light penetrating building element.
2.4 Relationship to the surrounding buildings and to the environment
2.4.1 Regulation
The minimum distance to the opposite building in front of the main window of a habitable room in the same or
neighbouring property should be equal to the height of the opposite building measured from the floor level of a
room unless otherwise provided by the town plan. However, there should be up to a distance of at least 8 metres
of unbuilt space in front of the main window. The said distance for a one-family house on a site or building plot
may be even less taking into account the requirements for a pleasant living environment.
2.4.2 Regulation
The effect of cardinal points and of possible disturbances in the environment as well as the view from the win-
dows should be taken into account in the design of habitable rooms.
Guidelines
A habitable room needs direct sunlight in proportion to
its intended use. Views from the window of a habitable
room are significant in respect of a pleasant living envi-
ronment.
2.5 Relationship of the floor to the ground
2.5.1 Regulation
The floor of a habitable room should be above the ground where the wall with the main window is. However,
some of the habitable rooms in an apartment may be, in the said respect, located below the ground to a minor
extent.
3
APARTMENT
3.1 Minimum size
3.1.1 Regulation
The minimum net floor area of an apartment should be 20 m2.
3.2 Facilities and fittings
3.2.1 Regulation
The facilities and the floor plan of an apartment should be appropriate in respect of the living environment tak-
ing into account the intended occupancy, circulation areas in dwellings and the changes in operational needs.
Apartments should have enough space for resting, pastime and leisure activities, eating and cooking, bathing as
well as for any necessary maintenance and storage connected with living.
There should be appropriate facilities for clothes maintenance and storage of personal property as well as for
storage of bicycles, prams and outdoor recreational equipment in apartments or for the use of the apartments.
3.2.2 Regulation
The facilities should be provided with fittings, equipment and technical installations required by their use. How-
ever, apartments should always have a toilet and basic equipment sufficient for taking care of personal hygiene
and for cooking.
3.2.3 Regulation
In apartments in multi-storey blocks where access requires a lift, pursuant to paragraph 4.2.1, it must also be
possible to provide toilet and washroom facilities for users of wheelchairs and walking frames with wheels.
Circulation areas in dwellings should be suitable for their purpose taking also into account the use suitable for
disabled people.
Explanation
The Decree concerning accessible building (RakMk F1)
shall provide for the dimensions of toilet and washroom
facilities suitable for disabled people in apartments.
3.3 Doors and passages
3.3.1 Regulation
The minimum clear width of doors and passages, leading from a front door of an apartment to habitable rooms
and to any other necessary facilities used for living, should be 800 mm. The same applies to doors and passages
leading to any necessary facilities in a building and garden area used for living.
Guidelines
Any other necessary facilities used for living, referred to
herein, include a toilet, a washroom and a sauna in the
dwelling and in multi-storey blocks they include storage
facilities for personal property, prams and outdoor rec-
reational equipment, a communal laundry and a com-
munal sauna as well as any other facilities designed for
the use of residents in the property.
Here the clear width of a door refers to the actual width
of a passage also in respect of an opened door panel.
4
BUILDINGS, SITES AND BUILDING PLOTS
4.1 Floor height
4.1.1 Regulation
The minimum floor height in a multi-storey block is 3000 mm.
4.2 Routes
4.2.1 Regulation
In multi-storey blocks where the access to apartments is on the third floor or higher including the entrance storey
level, the stair route to apartments must be provided with a lift suitable for users of wheelchairs and walking frames
with wheels. If the access to a building is between the storey levels, the lower of these is regarded as the entrance
storey level. In addition, the lift route must extend to the attic and to the cellar if these have any facilities used for
living.
Guidelines
A requirement concerning accessible entrance to service fa-
cilities may also be met with a building easement which
gives the right for the facilities to be used in another prop-
erty located nearby.
Necessary routes from the boundary of a site of a multi-storey block or of a building plot as well as from a parking
space designed for disabled people leading to a building and also leading to a playground and to an area designed
for recreation and any other routes used for living must be suitable for disabled people.
A route and an entrance leading to a dwelling on the ground level from the boundary of a site of a one-family house
or of a building plot as well as from a parking space are also constructed to suit disabled people if it is possible
when taking into account the shape of the terrain and the differences in level.
Explanation
The Decree on accessible building (RakMk F1) provides
for routes suitable for disabled people as well as for lifts
and ramps suitable for arrangements of differences in level.
4.2.2 Regulation
Stairs and ramps leading to apartments and to the necessary facilities used for living should be easy of access and
provided with the necessary railings and handrails. The same applies to the necessary external routes on a site or
building plot. Stairs between the storey levels should be covered. In addition, in multi-storey blocks without a lift,
the stairs between the storey levels should receive enough natural light, and the stairs should have at least one half
landing between the landings.
Explanation
The Decree on operational safety of buildings (RakMk F2)
provides for ramps, stairs, railings and handrails as well as
for any other operational safety of buildings.
4.2.3 Regulation
Staircases and landings must be dimensioned so that carrying people and goods may be arranged without undue
difficulties. Carrying of goods may also be arranged with a lift which is sufficiently spacious for this purpose.
It must also be possible to carry people via a staircase in case the lift is not in use.
4.3 Other facilities, structures and areas
Section 155(1) of the Land Use and Building Act:
Adequate outdoor areas must be provided in connection with
residential buildings for play areas and areas for the enjoyment of
residents. They must be separated safely from areas reserved for
traffic. When estimating the adequacy of the areas, the
corresponding areas available in the vicinity and the joint
arrangements of properties may also be taken into account.
Section 56 of the Land Use and Building Decree:
As separately prescribed on the matter, the type of
activities in a building and possible location of recovery
receptacles must be taken into account when premises and
structures are provided for the waste management of a
property. If needed, such facilities and structures shall be
enclosed or otherwise protected to prevent the risk of fire
or environmental hazard.
4.3.1 Regulation
There should be a convenient and safe access from the dwellings to the playground and to the facilities
and areas designed for recreation. Parking spaces, vehicle access to the parking spaces, location of waste
management facilities and driving maintenance vehicles in the courtyard must be arranged so that any
disturbance on residents is insignificant.
