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Guidelines for dealing with power outages on campus

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Prepare for possible power outages by reading these guidelines. Uniarts Helsinki aims to announce power outages on campus in advance. The likelihood of power outages depends on the weather and the production of electricity. This winter, all people in Finland need to prepare for possible power outages due to a shortage of electricity.

Communications about power outages

  • We will announce pre-planned power outages about a day in advance by email, on our website and intranet and on our social media platforms. If a power outage takes place unexpectedly, we will inform the community about it on the Artsi intranet and on the Students’ Uniarts website.
  • According to the energy company Helen, possible power outages would take place between 8 and 10 in the morning and between 17 and 19 in the evening.
  • It is very difficult to predict power outages, but if one occurs, you can follow the progress of the situation on the Helen website. The risk of power outages increases when temperatures drop down to -15 degrees Celsius.

At the start of a power outage

  • Turn off the power switch of all electric appliances at the start of the power outage. Electrical equipment that runs on backup power will continue working for another 30 minutes or so.
  • Lifts will stop operating completely, and they will not be available for use during the power outage. If the power outage has been announced in advance, lifts will be taken out of use already before the outage.
    • If you get stuck in a lift, call the lift service with the phone in the lift or on your own phone. You can read the phone number on the wall of the lift. Do not panic or try to open the lift door by force, because it may result in permanent damages to the lift. Remain calm and rest assured that help will come.
  • Uniarts Helsinki’s doors will stay open, and electronic key tags will continue working 1–2 hours after the start of the power outage. After this, the doors will lock, and they can only be opened with mechanical keys. Always keep your personal belongings with you so that they will not end up behind closed doors. If necessary, attendants are able to open doors to facilities with mechanical keys during the opening hours of the facilities. Check the opening hours of the facilities.

During the power outage

  • When the power outage begins, we recommend leaving the building. Alternatively, go and wait for the power outage to end in the lobby of the building that you are in. Do not stay in practice/rehearsal halls or studios.
  • Heating, water and air conditioning do not operate normally.
  • Do not use the toilets or showers in the building.
  • Do not open refrigerator doors.
  • Do not light candles or any open fire.

Once the power is back on

  • After the power is back on, do not switch on all devices at the same time to avoid power spikes.
  • It takes time to reheat the building after power is restored.
  • It may not be possible to get warm water immediately once the power is back up and running.

Impact on work

  • If the power outage has been announced in advance, staff should, for the most part, work remotely during the outage or in buildings that are not affected by the outage.
  • If a power outage happens unexpectedly, we recommend staff to leave the building and go work in other university buildings or remotely at home, if it is possible in terms of their work duties. Alternatively, go and wait for the power outage to end in the lobby of the building that you are in. Do not stay in the room where you are working.

Impact on teaching

  • There will be no teaching in the university facilities during power outages.
  • If the power outage has been announced in advance, teaching must be organised remotely or rescheduled for another time. Teachers or heads of degree programmes can also decide on alternative teaching arrangements.
  • If a power outage happens unexpectedly, suspend the teaching. We recommend people to leave the building or to go to the lobby of the building to wait for the power outage to end.
  • It is not possible to reschedule the teaching to start immediately after the end of the power outage.

Impact on artistic activities

  • If the power outage has been announced in advance, public events must be cancelled or rescheduled.
  • If a power outage happens unexpectedly, audience members must be given instructions to leave the building or to go to the lobby of the building to wait for the power outage to end.

Impact on independent work

  • If the power outage has been announced in advance, working in the university facilities is forbidden.
  • If a power outage happens unexpectedly, we recommend leaving the building. Alternatively, go and wait for the power outage to end in the lobby of the building that you are in. Do not stay in the room where you are working.

Seinäjoki and Kuopio campuses

Kuopio and Seinäjoki campuses will update this article with their additional guidelines in January 2023.