A sauna fire can catch you off guard in an apartment building — these simple everyday habits keep your home safe

A private sauna is a welcome source of relaxation for many apartment dwellers. While electric sauna heaters are designed to be safe and easy to use, improper operation or neglected maintenance always carries a fire risk. According to statistics from the Finnish Rescue Services Partnership Network and the Finnish National Rescue Association (SPEK), an average of one sauna fire breaks out in Finland every day. In an apartment building in particular, a sauna fire puts not only the residents of that unit at risk, but also neighbours — smoke and flames can spread rapidly to other apartments and shared areas of the building.

Sauna fire safety is easy to maintain as part of everyday routine. A few simple habits allow every resident to prevent hazardous situations effectively. Recognising the risks and acting responsibly protects both your own home and those around you.

Why does sauna fire safety matter more in apartment buildings?

In an apartment building, people live in close proximity, meaning an accident in one unit directly affects the safety of dozens of others. Sauna fire safety is part of the building's collective safety — not just an individual resident's responsibility. An electric sauna heater is a high-powered appliance that generates large amounts of thermal energy very quickly. If flammable materials are nearby, a dangerous fire can develop in a matter of minutes.

In modern apartment buildings, structural fire compartmentalisation improves safety. Required by fire authorities and building regulations, compartmentalisation separates apartments using fire doors and fire-resistant wall and ceiling structures, which typically contain fire and smoke for at least 60 minutes. This gives residents more time to escape in an emergency and helps keep the fire contained until the rescue services arrive. However, compartmentalisation does not prevent smoke from entering the stairwell or ventilation ducts if, for example, the apartment's front door is left open during evacuation.

The area around the heater and drying laundry: Everyday hazards and how to avoid them

 One of the most common mistakes in apartment saunas is using the sauna as a storage space or for drying laundry after washing. While the sauna may seem like a convenient place to hang wet clothes, the practice poses a serious fire safety risk. Ropes strung above the heater can loosen or snap, causing dry, lightweight textiles to fall directly onto the hot stones. A laundry rack toppling onto the heater has also caused several serious fires.

Nothing should ever be stored on top of or immediately next to the heater, even when the unit is cold. An electric sauna heater can switch on accidentally — for instance during cleaning, through children playing nearby, or because of a pet. If your apartment has a sauna you use rarely or not at all, the safest course of action is to turn off the heater's circuit breaker at the fuse box entirely. This eliminates any risk of the unit starting up unintentionally.

When the heater's required clearance distances are not observed, the temperature in surrounding materials can rise to ignition point rapidly. Clearance distances are the safety zones specified by the manufacturer. They ensure that nearby wooden structures and other surfaces do not overheat. Adequate clearance prevents wood materials from gradually charring and eventually self-igniting as a result of prolonged heat exposure.

Never store these items in the sauna:

Make it a habit to check the heater and its surroundings every time before switching it on. This brief check, taking just a few seconds, is an effective way to prevent accidents. If you are unsure about how your heater is working or notice any faults, you can find useful information in our frequently asked questions. For anything unclear or in need of maintenance, do not hesitate to contact our customer service directly.

Regular maintenance of sauna stones prevents overheating

Few people consider that the stones inside the sauna heater directly affect the apartment's fire safety. According to recommendations from the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency (Tukes), sauna stones should be inspected and restacked at least once a year — more often with heavy use. Over time, repeated intense heat cycling causes the stones to crumble, compact and begin to block the heater's internal airflow. This blockage prevents air from circulating freely between the heating elements, which leads to the unit overheating and can damage its electrical components or the surrounding structures.

When air cannot flow freely, the heating elements operate continuously at their limits. This shortens the heater's lifespan and significantly increases the risk of an electrical fire. The condition of the sauna stones is easy to check at home: if the surface of the stones has turned grey and crumbly, or they have clearly sunk down inside the heater, it is time to replace them. Intact, properly arranged stones ensure even and safe heat distribution throughout the sauna, which also saves energy and improves the quality of steam.

What to do in an emergency: How to respond if the sauna catches fire

 While careful prevention is the best way to protect against accidents, it is worth knowing in advance how to act in an emergency. If a fire breaks out in the sauna, a quick and correct response can save lives — both yours and your neighbours'. The first priority is always to ensure your own safety and the safety of others, and to avoid immediate danger.

According to rescue authority guidelines, if a space is filled with smoke, you must leave immediately by crawling — clean, cooler air stays low near floor level. In an apartment building, closing the front door when evacuating is critically important: it gives other residents more time to protect themselves and helps the fire service keep the fire contained to a limited area.

Stress-free and safe everyday living in our homes

Safety and comfort are the foundations of a good home. We offer flexible and hassle-free housing solutions in growing urban areas, including the Tampere and Turku regions and their surrounding municipalities. Our diverse portfolio includes modern rental apartments, responsible and affordable right-of-occupancy homes (ASO), and high-quality owner-occupied properties developed with sound financial backing. In our state-supported Varke apartments, resident selection is subject to asset and income limits to ensure the homes reach those who need them most.

Across all our property types, maintenance and upkeep have been designed to be as straightforward and transparent as possible. On the topic of fire safety, it is worth noting that the responsibility for maintaining and providing smoke detectors now lies with the building owner — i.e. the landlord or housing company. The resident's role is to test the device regularly and to report any faults — such as a depleted battery — without delay.

If you notice any malfunctions or maintenance needs in your sauna or elsewhere in your apartment, our online service Oma YH Kodit is available around the clock. Through the service, you can submit a maintenance request, view your contract and payment details, and read the latest announcements for your building. Our professional customer service team and maintenance partners ensure that apartment inspections, move-in repairs and other technical work are carried out promptly.

Flexibility is also reflected in our contract terms. Our tenancy agreements require no mandatory 12-month commitment, and a one calendar month notice period applies. In practice, this means the tenancy ends on the last day of the calendar month following the month in which notice is given — for example, if you give notice in June, your tenancy ends at the close of July. Pets are always welcome in our homes too, so you can enjoy a safe and relaxed everyday life together with your four-legged companion.

By maintaining sauna fire safety through small everyday habits, you create a safe living environment for yourself and your neighbours. Preventive measures — such as keeping the area around the heater clear, avoiding drying laundry in the sauna room, and checking the condition of the sauna stones regularly — go a long way towards protecting your shared home for years to come.