Spring, summer and autumn are excellent times for construction work in Finland when there is no frost in the ground. However, certain safety instructions apply and permits must be taken into account in construction work carried out in the proximity of a gas pipeline. The instructions and permit procedure apply both to private builders and construction companies and are free of charge for everyone. Please don’t hesitate to contact us.
Construction work where the proximity of the gas pipeline must be taken into account:
- Excavation work less than 5 metres from a gas pipeline.
- Blasting and quarrying work less than 30 metres from a gas pipeline.
- Extensive quarrying 100–500 metres away.
- Construction of buildings less than 30 metres from a gas pipeline.
- Construction of fairways (e.g. roads, paths) less than 30 metres away.
- Construction of electrically conductive structures (water pipes, high-voltage lines, earthing cables, district heating pipelines, etc.) less than 30 metres away or within 100 metres of an anode field*.
- Storage or soil dumping within 50 metres of a gas pipeline.
- Altering the height of the groundwater table, such as draining or restoring a peatland.
- Land use plan amendments within the impact area of a gas pipeline.
- Crossing a gas pipeline with a heavy vehicle on soft or weak ground.
*Anode field relating to the electrical corrosion protection of pipelines
Authorisation from Gasgrid is required for construction work in the vicinity of a natural gas pipeline
If you are planning various construction work, such as excavation, blasting and quarrying work, the construction of buildings or, for example, the construction of roads in the vicinity of a natural gas pipeline, you will require authorisation from Gasgrid.
Contact Gasgrid as soon as possible in the early stages of planning to ensure that your construction project runs smoothly and without delays.
A supervisor will visit the site free of charge to show the exact location of the gas pipeline and ensure that construction does not pose a danger to the gas pipeline, construction workers or the environment.
All earthworks within 5 metres of a gas pipeline must be carried out under the supervision of a supervisor. Please note that any drainage ditch clearing and finishing work on the ground surface also requires supervision by our supervisor.
Do you have any questions concerning
– gas transmission network location data
– the showing of pipelines and crossings in the terrain
– statements about the gas transmission network?
Contact Gasgrid, we’re always pleased to help!
If you are planning work near a gas pipeline or if you have any questions concerning the matters above, contact us preferably three working days in advance on +358 20 447 8713. Our supervisor will visit the site free of charge.
Statement procedure concerning activities near gas pipelines
If you are building permanent fixed structures near a gas pipeline or planning activities that will change the conditions that existed during gas pipeline construction or may cause vibration to a gas pipeline, contact us to find out if the statement procedure is required. The statement procedure is also free of charge to the builder.
The statement procedure defines, agrees on and archives the matters that ensure the safety of a gas pipeline in accordance with the Government Decree on the Safety of Natural Gas (551/2009) and the guidelines in the Government Decree on the Finnish Safety and Chemicals Agency.
Be prepared for it to take about two months to obtain authorisation – get the ball rolling in good time!
The following information is required to request a statement:
- the applicant’s contact details
- the location of the site to be constructed or details of the gas pipeline signpost located nearest to the site
- the activity planned near the gas pipeline
- the project implementation schedule
- references to any previous phone calls, reviews and documents
- NB: Project plans, maps, etc. should primarily be submitted as PDF files. The request for a statement may be informal, but the statement request form template may be used to help
Tero Lehtinen, Head of the Operation Control and Land Use Unit of the Natural Gas Transmission Network at Gasgrid, was interviewed for the text.
You can find more information at Identification and activities – Gasgrid Finland
Text: Sami J. Anteroinen, Suvi Vesterinen
Image: Otavamedia