> Electrical safety and distribution boards in a housing company > Lähde: https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/ > Koko sivusto koneluettavana: https://huoneistokierros.fi/llms-full.txt [Knowledge base](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/) # Electrical safety and distribution boards in a housing company Huoneistokierros · 7 July 2026 · 8 min read ![Technician fitting a ceiling light](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/valaisinasennus.cKnR_kQD_2cpK2.jpg) In this article 1. [What the law requires](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#what-the-law-requires) 2. [The most common risks in a distribution board](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#the-most-common-risks-in-a-distribution-board) 3. [Who is allowed to do what](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#who-is-allowed-to-do-what) 4. [What can be seen from the outside](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#what-can-be-seen-from-the-outside) 5. [Making electrics part of maintenance](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#making-electrics-part-of-maintenance) 6. [Questions for the board](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#questions-for-the-board) 7. [Frequently asked questions](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-electrical-safety/#frequently-asked-questions) A housing company’s electrical system keeps the lighting, lifts, ventilation, heating controls and many other devices running. Yet the distribution boards are in stairwells, basements and technical rooms that few people visit, and they can stay shut for years without anyone keeping an eye on their condition. The board and the property manager should know what the Electrical Safety Act requires and what the board can do itself. ## What the law requires Under the [Electrical Safety Act (sähköturvallisuuslaki, 1135/2016; in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2016/1135), the holder of an electrical installation is responsible for its safety and for the maintenance needed to keep it safe. The condition of the installation must be monitored, and any faults and deficiencies found must be repaired quickly enough. In a housing company, the holder is the company to the extent that the installation is its maintenance responsibility, and in practice the board looks after this with the help of the property manager. Under the Limited Liability Housing Companies Act, the electrical system is one of the main systems maintained by the company, unless the articles of association provide otherwise. Inside the apartment, where the line is drawn can vary, so it is worth checking your own company’s [division of responsibilities table](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/division-of-responsibilities/). The electrical installation of a residential building with more than two apartments falls into class 1 under the Act. New installations and significant alterations and extensions require a verification inspection in addition to the commissioning inspection. Residential buildings are not required to have regular periodic inspections, and a separate maintenance programme is not compulsory: it can be replaced by the operating and maintenance instructions for the equipment. The exception is commercial premises and other spaces in a residential building used mainly for purposes other than housing, where the rated current of the overcurrent protection is more than 35 amperes. Their installations must have a periodic inspection every ten years. Even though there is no inspection obligation, there is a maintenance obligation. Tukes (the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency) stresses that maintenance also applies to properties not covered by periodic inspections. Monitoring the condition of the installation is therefore down to the housing company’s own maintenance. ## The most common risks in a distribution board ### Dust and moisture Distribution boards gather dust over the years, and building and demolition work creates exceptionally large amounts of it. The stairwell is cleaned after a renovation, but electrical rooms are easily forgotten. According to Tukes, dust, dirt and moisture increase the risk of arcing and electrical fires because they can cause conductors or parts of the installation to short-circuit and heat up. A thick layer of dust also prevents heat from escaping from components. That is why a distribution board must be kept in a condition where dust cannot get inside it and moisture cannot form in it. ### Loose connections Temperature fluctuations, changes in load, vibration and sometimes poor installation can loosen connections over time. In a poor connection, resistance increases and the connection heats up. The result can be an overheated conductor or terminal, sparking or arcing, and in the worst case a fire. The problem can develop for months without any outward signs: the lights work and the fuses stay intact until the connection fails and causes an outage that has to be fixed in a hurry. Because a distribution board can look completely normal from the outside, a visual inspection is not enough. Tukes recommends regular thermal imaging as an effective way to find poor connections and faulty components. An electrical professional images the boards under normal load and records the results in a report, so that any anomalies can be fixed without a rush. ### Growing loads According to Tukes, electrical installations and distribution board components wear out and reach the end of their service life over time. At the same time, loads are growing: housing companies have added electric vehicle charging points, air-source and ground-source heat pumps, solar power systems, mechanical ventilation and building automation, and the number of appliances in apartments has increased. The board should periodically assess whether the system matches current use or is still sized for the needs of the year the building was built. When planning charging points, check in advance whether the grid connection and rising mains are sufficient. ### A fuse that keeps blowing If the fuse for the same circuit blows several times a year and is simply replaced or reset, the cause is never found. Repeated tripping usually indicates an overload or a fault. ## Who is allowed to do what A resident or board member may carry out operating tasks on the electrical installation, such as replacing a screw-in fuse or resetting a tripped circuit breaker, when the live parts are protected against contact. Tukes also allows laypeople to do certain minor electrical jobs, for example replacing a broken plug or single-phase connection cord and repairing a single-phase extension lead; the permitted jobs are listed in [Tukes’s guidance (opens in a new tab)](https://tukes.fi/kodin-sahkoturvallisuus/mita-sahkotoita-saan-tehda-itse) (in Finnish). Fixed installations are not for laypeople: you may not replace even a fixed socket or a light switch yourself. Opening the protective covers of a distribution board, cleaning inside it, tightening connections and any other work inside the board is electrical work. It may only be carried out by an electrical contractor that has notified Tukes of its activities and has qualified staff. You can check in the Tukes register whether a contractor is entitled to carry out electrical work. The board should therefore not order cleaning of a distribution board or tightening of connections as ordinary maintenance work without checking the contractor’s qualifications and the scope of the work. The caretaker can keep the electrical room generally tidy and report any anomalies. ## What can be seen from the outside A well-kept electrical room is clean, dry, locked and properly labelled, with nothing stored in front of the board. Contact an electrical professional if you notice: - a burning or scorching smell near the board - an unusual buzzing - a casing or cover that is warmer than usual - darkening, melt marks or discolouration on visible parts - moisture marks or rust in or around the cabinet - broken doors, missing covers or loose cables - flickering lights or protective devices that keep tripping Do not open or repair the board yourself; report what you have seen to the maintenance company or the property manager. If the situation is immediately dangerous, for example if smoke is coming from the board, call the emergency number 112. ## Making electrics part of maintenance Tukes recommends that good property management should include planned maintenance inspections by an electrical professional, involving sensory checks and measurements. It makes sense to have any necessary cleaning and minor repairs done during the same visit. The same goes for the apartments’ electrical panels: during an apartment round, the [apartment electrical panels](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/electrical-panels/) can be serviced in every apartment at once. An electrician tests the residual current devices, checks and tightens the connections and records the findings for each apartment. The following are practical recommendations, not statutory inspection intervals: - Include electrical rooms in regular property rounds. - Agree an inspection interval and thermal imaging with an electrical contractor. - Have the electrical rooms checked after major renovations and electrical work. - Record observations and repairs in the [maintenance log (huoltokirja)](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/maintenance-log/), so that the information is not lost when the board changes. ## Questions for the board 1. Where are the housing company’s distribution boards, and when was their condition last inspected? 2. Has thermal imaging been carried out, and have the deficiencies found been fixed? 3. Has dust, moisture or overheating been found in the boards? 4. Were the electrical rooms checked after the last renovation? 5. Has the electrical load increased, for example because of charging points, and is the grid connection sufficient? 6. Has a summary been compiled of electrical faults in recent years? Preparing for a power cut is covered in the article on [power cuts in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/power-cut-in-a-housing-company/), and preventing electrical fires as part of wider fire safety in the article on [fire safety in a housing company](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/knowledge-base/housing-company-fire-safety/). ## Frequently asked questions ### Can dust in a distribution board cause a fire? Yes. According to Tukes, dust, dirt and moisture increase the risk of arcing and electrical fires. ### Can the caretaker clean an electrical cabinet? Cleaning the inside of a distribution board and any work on its connections are jobs for an electrical professional. The caretaker can keep the electrical room tidy and report any anomalies. ### Do distribution boards have to be inspected every ten years? The statutory periodic inspection does not apply to residential buildings, unless the building has installations of more than 35 amperes used for purposes other than housing. The installation must nevertheless be maintained. *Sources: [Electrical Safety Act 1135/2016, Finlex (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://www.finlex.fi/fi/lainsaadanto/2016/1135); [Tukes and the Finnish Real Estate Federation (Kiinteistöliitto): electrical maintenance and periodic inspections of properties (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://tukes.fi/documents/5470659/6410641/Kiinteist%C3%B6jen+s%C3%A4hk%C3%B6kunnossapito+ja+m%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4aikaistarkastukset/f0da27ab-f3c8-4d69-bf3c-8ad26d97c95d/Kiinteist%C3%B6jen+s%C3%A4hk%C3%B6kunnossapito+ja+m%C3%A4%C3%A4r%C3%A4aikaistarkastukset.pdf); [Tukes: electrical fires (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://tukes.fi/sahko/sahkopalot); [Tukes: what electrical work can I do myself? (in Finnish) (opens in a new tab)](https://tukes.fi/kodin-sahkoturvallisuus/mita-sahkotoita-saan-tehda-itse).* This article provides general information and does not replace case-specific legal or technical advice. Huoneistokierros · Electrical panels and minor electrical work ## What would a round cost your housing company? Apartment electrical panel servicing: RCD testing, tightening connections, cleaning and reporting. Price €35 per panel, incl. VAT. Calculate a price estimate based on the number of apartments. [Get a price estimate](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/pricing/#hinta-arvio)[Read more: electrical panels and minor electrical work](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/electrical-panels/) Preventive maintenance at a fixed price Every apartment on a single round. [Get a price estimate](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/pricing/#hinta-arvio) Read next ## Related articles - ![Bright stairwell with a red handrail](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/porraskaytava-valoisa.DZcYQ7qD_Z2cPrpi.jpg) 7 September 2026 · 6 min read ### Fire safety in a housing company: what the law requires Smoke alarms, escape routes, emergency access roads and the rescue plan: what the Rescue Act requires of a housing company and how to check it in practice. - ![Laundry drying in the autumn courtyard of a block of flats](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/sisapiha-pyykit.CxRPzYH8_Z1w97aG.jpg) 3 June 2026 · 3 min read ### The housing company yard: safety, responsibilities and annual check The yard is part of a housing company's planned maintenance. A checklist for paths, trees, lighting and rainwater, plus who is responsible for what. - ![Woman reading papers by the window](https://huoneistokierros.fi/_astro/nainen-lukee.DBdhDGzC_7rX5.jpg) 4 October 2026 · 9 min read ### Board member responsibilities and liability for damages What a housing company board member answers for under the law, when that becomes personal liability for damages and how to reduce the risk. Free assessment ## Let's plan the right round for your housing company Call us or send a contact request. The assessment and advice are free of charge. We can visit the property if needed. [Send a contact request](https://huoneistokierros.fi/en/contact/#kartoitus)[Call +358 10 666 9988](tel:+358106669988)