Tallinn Gas Safety Crisis: Nearly Half of Apartments Fail Inspection
Estonian regulators have uncovered a widespread public safety risk in Tallinn after a late 2025 inspection of 431 apartments found 49% failed to meet gas safety standards, citing critical flaws like improper ventilation and a significant lack of mandatory carbon monoxide detectors.
- —A recent inspection by the Estonian Consumer Protection and Technical Regulatory Authority (TTJA) in Tallinn found that only 51% of checked apartments met current gas safety standards.
- —The inspection, conducted at the end of 2025, covered eight apartment buildings and 431 individual apartments, identifying numerous issues including gas leaks, inadequate ventilation, and improper materials in gas installations.
- —Specific problems noted include gas water heaters installed in undersized bathrooms lacking sufficient air supply, and the use of incorrect materials for smoke pipes and flexible hoses, indicating unauthorized and unqualified installations.
- —The presence of carbon monoxide detectors was also found to be lower than required, with only 60% of inspected apartments having them installed, despite being mandatory for units with gas water heaters or gas heating appliances.
- —The TTJA emphasized the necessity of adequate ventilation in rooms with gas appliances to prevent carbon monoxide buildup and reminded residents of mandatory periodic inspections and chimney sweeping.
Recap
The inspection results from Tallinn point to a systemic failure in residential safety, not isolated incidents of non-compliance. The prevalence of improper materials and ventilation suggests a shadow market of unqualified installers operating without oversight. This, combined with a critical deficit in mandatory carbon monoxide detectors, creates a high-risk environment where equipment malfunctions can easily become fatal, indicating a significant gap between regulation and on-the-ground reality in the capital.