Kazakhstan Introduces New Civil Defense Standard for Emergency Shelters

A new national standard for safety in emergency situations has been introduced in Kazakhstan. The document, designated ST RK 4016-2025, was approved by an order from the Chairman of the Committee for Technical Regulation and Metrology on October 23, 2025.

The standard, titled "Safety in Emergency Situations. Adaptation of Simple Shelters for Population Protection. General Requirements," establishes rules for adapting existing buildings and structures to protect civilians. This includes basements, ground floors, underground parking lots, tunnels, and other buried spaces.

These adapted shelters are designed to provide protection from the blast and fragmentation effects of conventional weapons, as well as from the collapse of building structures. They are intended to accommodate people for up to 12 hours and must be equipped with minimally necessary life support systems.

The new standard will come into force on January 1, 2026. It implements provisions of the Republic of Kazakhstan's Law "On Civil Protection" and aims to enhance preparedness for natural, technological, and military threats.

This development follows earlier work by emergency services in collaboration with the Ministry of Industry and Construction. In October 2024, Building Code RK 2.04-15-2024 "Simple Shelters" was approved. That code sets mandatory requirements for spaces designed to function as shelters in new buildings intended for mass occupancy.