Building stock: documentation of statistics
The documentation of the statistics describes how the statistics were compiled and what methods were used in the compilation. The data help interpret the figures of the statistics and evaluate their reliability and comparability. The quality report is based on the EU's SIMS model. The documentation also contains change releases describing changes in the statistics and possible specifying methodological descriptions.
If you are looking for statistical figures for these statistics, go to the statistics page: Building stock
Quality report
Data description (SIMS 3.1)
The statistics on building stock are produced annually and describe the existing stock and number of buildings on the last day of the year. Free-time residences, on which separate statistics are produced, are not included in the building stock. Neither are light-structured shelters and kiosks, buildings used for agricultural production only, or separate sauna or utility buildings of the residential buildings included in the building stock. Statistics on the building stock can be produced by all regional divisions based on municipalities or co-ordinates, as well as by postal code area. Statistics Finland receives most its data on the building stock from the population information system of the Population Register Centre, into which municipal building inspection authorities report data concerning buildings that are subject to building permits. The statistics on building stock constitute total data.
Concepts and definitions (SIMS 3.4)
Building
A building refers to any independent structure permanently constructed or erected on its site. It has its own entrance and contains covered space intended for different purposes, usually enclosed within outer walls or walls separating it from other structures (buildings). Caves and other subterranean spaces which are mainly enclosed within rock or similar walls and/or which do not contain structures comparable to the interior structures of buildings proper, such as underground oil tanks, are not buildings. Buildings do not include light-structured stalls, kiosks and the like, which do not include spaces separated by closed walls, or transportable caravans, ships and so on. The building data derive from the building information system maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute Syke. The building stock statistics of Statistics Finland do not include: - liquid storage buildings - buildings used only in agricultural production - sauna buildings belonging to residential buildings - outhouses of residential buildings - buildings entirely controlled by foreign missions - buildings of the Finnish Defence Forces, - air raid shelters except where the above-mentioned buildings are occupied or have commercial properties. The data on new production of buildings do not include: - buildings entirely controlled by foreign missions - buildings of the Finnish Defence Forces - air raid shelters
Building material
The building material refers to the material from which the vertical supporting structures of the building are mainly made. The classification is as follows: - concrete, light concrete - brick - steel - wood - other, unknown.
Facilities
Data on the facilities of dwellings and buildings are derived from the dwelling and building data of the Finnish Environment Institute. The facilities in a dwelling: - sewage - running water - toilet - hot water - washing facilities (shower, bathroom or sauna) - sauna in the dwelling - central or electric heating. The data on a dwelling’s facilities have been used in determining the standard of facilities in the dwelling. Facilities in a building: - electricity - sewage - running water - hot water - lift - sauna in the building - mechanical ventilation - air raid shelter.
Gross floor area
The gross floor area of a building comprises the floor areas of the different storeys and the area of attic or basement storeys in which there are dwelling or working rooms or other space conforming to the principal intended use of the building. The gross floor area is the horizontal area enclosed by the outer surfaces of the walls of the storeys or their imagined continuation for openings and decorations on the surface of the outer walls.
Heating system
Heating system refers to the main method of heating used in the heating of a building. Data on the heating system are also available for dwellings. Data on the heating system have been obtained from the building information system maintained by the Finnish Environment Institute Syke, which receives them from municipal building supervision authorities by way of building project notices. Information about a change in the heating system of a building is transmitted to the system only if the modifications in question have required a building permit. The classification is as follows: - central water heating - central air heating - electric heating - oven-fireplace-stove heating - solar heating - air source heat pump - no fixed heating installation - unknown. In a water central heating system, the building is heated with circulating water, and in an air central heating system, with circulating air. In direct electric heating, the building is heated with the aid of a fixed radiator, etc. connected directly to the electricity network. In stove heating, heating takes place by burning wood or other fuels in a fireplace (stove) that stores heat. Stove heating also includes electric heating reservoirs, separate fixed oil heaters and heat preserving fireplaces (not lightweight). Stoves used for heating saunas are not regarded as heating equipment.
Network connection
The following network connections are identified for a building: - sewage - running water - electricity - natural gas.
Number of storeys
The number of storeys in a building consists of all storeys that are primarily above ground level and in which there are habitable rooms or office space or other space conforming to the intended use of the building. If the number of storeys varies in different parts of the building, the number usually refers to the largest number of storeys in the building. For buildings completed after 1980, the number of storeys is expressed as an average number that takes into account the whole building if the share of the gross floor area of a certain storey out of the gross floor area of the main storeys is very small. For instance, if a large industrial unit is mainly a one-storey building, but office space is located on three storeys, then the number of storeys is given as one.
Residential block of flats
A house with at least three dwellings of which at least two are on top of each other.
Sub-area (of municipality)
Municipal sub-areas are formed of operationally functional wholes defined by the municipality itself, which are the basis of the municipality's regional planning and monitoring. Statistics Finland is responsible for digitising new sub-area boundaries and for maintaining name files. Municipalities have the opportunity to check their sub-area division once a year. The division into sub-areas is a hierarchical three-level classification which has a 1-digit major area level, a 2-digit statistical area level and a 3-digit small area level. Sub-areas are numbered consecutively using these three hierarchical levels. The 6-digit sub-area code is bound to the 3-digit municipality code, so the sub-area code consists of a total of nine characters.
Type of building
Dwellings are classified according to the type of building as follows: - one to two-dwelling houses: one to two-dwelling houses and permanently occupied free-time residences - terraced houses: detached houses with at least three adjoining dwellings and where the spaces belonging to different dwellings are not on top of each other. - blocks of flats: residential buildings of at least three dwellings in which at least two dwellings are located on top of each other and which do not belong to the categories above - other buildings: also buildings whose type of building is unknown.
Type of ownership of building
Buildings are divided into the following categories by tenure status: - private person/ death estate - housing corporation or co-operative - real estate corporation - private company - company controlled by the State or municipality - State or municipal corporation - bank or insurance company - municipality - State - social security fund - religious community, foundation, party, etc. - other or unknown.
Year of construction
The year of construction refers to the year in which the building was completed and was ready for use. If the building was completed prior to 1980, the year of renovation may have been entered as the year of construction.
Institutional mandate (SIMS 6)
The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. The Statistics Act contains provisions on collection of data, processing of data and the obligation to provide data. Besides the Statistics Act, the General Data Protection Regulation, the Data Protection Act and the Act on the Openness of Government Activities are applied to processing of data when producing statistics.
Statistics Finland compiles statistics in line with the EU’s regulations applicable to statistics, which steer the statistical agencies of all EU Member States.
Further information: Statistical legislation
Quality assurance (SIMS 11.1)
Quality management requires comprehensive guidance of activities. The European Statistics Code of Practice forms the basis for the common quality system of the European Statistical System.
The Code of Practice is based on 16 principles that concern statistical authorities' independence, accountability and the quality of the processes and data to be published.
The principles are in line with the Fundamental Principles of Official Statistics approved by the United Nations Statistics Commission and are supplementary to them. The quality criteria of Official Statistics of Finland are compatible with the European Statistics Code of Practice.
Further information:
Release calendar (SIMS 8.1)
Statistics Finland publishes new statistical data at 8 am on weekdays in its web service. The release times of statistics are given in advance in the release calendar available in the web service. The data become public after they have been updated in the web service.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics at Statistics Finland
User access (SIMS 8.3)
The data are released to all users at the same time. Statistical data may be processed at Statistics Finland and information on them may be given before release only by persons involved in the production of the statistics concerned or who need the data of the statistics concerned in their own work before the data are published.
Further information: Publication principles for statistics
Unless otherwise specifically stated in connection with the product, data or service concerned, Statistics Finland is the producer and copyright owner of the data.
Further information: The terms of use for statistical data
Confidentiality - policy (SIMS 7.1)
The data protection of data collected for statistical purposes is guaranteed. The compilation of statistics is guided by the Statistics Act. Alongside the Statistics Act, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (eur-lex.europa.eu) and the Finnish Data Protection Act (Finlex.fi) are applied to the processing of personal data. Provisions on the confidentiality of data collected for statistical purposes are laid down in the Act on the Openness of Government Activities (Finlex.fi).
The data are processed only by persons who need the data in their work. The use of data is restricted by usage rights. All persons employed by Statistics Finland have signed a pledge of secrecy, where they have obliged to keep secret the data prescribed as confidential by virtue of the Statistics Act or the Act on the Openness of Government Activities.
Further information: Data protection