Fewer nuclear bunkers needed in future
Only large properties will be required to have nuclear shelters under law revisions coming into force in 2012.
The Swiss cabinet approved changes to the law on protecting civilians on Wednesday. As of January, a legal requirement for bunkers will apply only to buildings with more than 38 rooms
Previously any building with more than eight rooms needed to have a fallout shelter.
New bunkers will also have to be bigger, capable of fitting at least 25 people.
As part of wider reforms, the cabinet launched a consultation at the start of November on a new strategy for better preparation for natural disasters and in emergency situations.
Switzerland’s system of emergency shelters was launched in the Cold War era of the 1960s amid fears of a nuclear bomb. There is room for 6.7 million people in bunkers.
In compliance with the JTI standards
More: SWI swissinfo.ch certified by the Journalism Trust Initiative
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.