Every person is exposed to many dangers. Starting from natural disasters to threats resulting from human activity. Ensuring the safety of yourself and your loved ones is natural and logical. It meets one of the basic human needs. Protective construction is not something new, but its rapid development has been noticeable in the last twenty years. The article is an introduction to research conducted at the Faculty of Architecture of the Poznań University of Technology as part of the research project titled "Safe architecture and security in architecture." Their goal is to develop the best solutions in the design and construction of protective facilities in residential buildings. Activities are carried out in many threads, both in terms of safety in housing estates and in the residential premises themselves. The current geopolitical situation (including the war in Ukraine, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict) and the consequences of climate change cause an increase in interest in creating safe rooms. The article presents the results of a survey conducted in 2023 regarding protective facilities. The problem of the lack of appropriate legal provisions and technical guidelines for shelters in Polish legislation was also highlighted.