New Dimensioning Order and Guidelines
Today, 15 October 2025, a new executive order on risk-based dimensioning and planning for the municipal rescue preparedness enters into force. The executive order and a new accompanying guide indicate a more analytical approach to the dimensioning of the municipal rescue preparedness and sharpen the focus on the rescue response times.
The new Resizing Order, which has just entered into force, contains a more analytical approach to the dimensioning of the municipal rescue services, and an earlier involvement of and dialogue with the Danish Emergency Management Agency in the process of preparing the dimensioning plan. Furthermore, it is specified that the transfer of technical management to others requires a decision to this effect by the municipal council.
Asa follow-up to the consideration of resolution B132 ('Proposal for a parliamentary resolution on changes to the requirements for the municipal emergency response times from departure times to response times'), the requirement that the municipal emergency response must depart within five minutes of receiving an alarm will be abolished. The first response must now depart as soon as possible after the rescue services have received an alarm, cf. section 7(1).
The abolition of the departure time requirement does not change the requirements for response times that the municipal council has approved as part of the service level to citizens and businesses. However, it has now been stipulated in the executive order that the municipal council, as part of the service level, must determine the requirements for the first responder's response time to the various geographical areas of the rescue service, cf. section 7(2).
The Danish Emergency Management Agency therefore expects that the previously established response times will be met. In its advisory and supervisory work with the municipal rescue services, the Agency will place additional focus on compliance with the stipulated response times and follow developments closely.
If a municipal rescue response team wants to change the requirements for response times, it requires – even after today – that the plan for the municipal rescue response is discussed politically in the municipal council or the joint emergency committee. The plan must be sent to the Danish Emergency Management Agency in advance, which assesses the changes and their justifiability as part of its supervisory task.
The other amendments to the Executive Order on Resizing are of a more technical and editorial nature, including an adjustment of the title of the Executive Order.
The new Resizing Order replaces Executive Order no. 1085 of 25 October 2019 on risk-based dimensioning of the municipal rescue preparedness.
New guidelines to support and improve the preparation of the plan for the municipal rescue preparedness TheDanish Emergency Management Agency is also publishing Guidelines on risk-based dimensioning and the plan for the municipal rescue preparedness, which replaces the previous guidelines from 2010.
The guidelines are aligned with the new Resizing Order and support the more analytical approach to the dimensioning of the municipal rescue preparedness. In addition, it presents a number of focus areas and recommendations to support the dimensioning work of the municipal rescue services. The purpose is to create an overview and simplify the preparation and revision of the plan for the municipal rescue preparedness.
The guidelines have been prepared by a working group with representatives from the municipal rescue services and from the Danish Emergency Management Agency.
Both the executive order and the guidelines have been subject to external consultation.