(1) PURPOSE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
The objective of this law is to prevent and guard against loss of life and property from fire. At the same time, to minimize damage from fire, earthquakes and similar disasters in order to preserve peace and order and promote the public welfare.

(2) OUTLINE OF THE LAW AND SYSTEM
1) The Law requires that flame retardant items (e.g. curtains, carpets, etc,) used in fire prevention property, such as high rise buildings, underground arcades, theaters, hotels, have flame retarding treament exceeding the standards prescribed by Cabinet Order (Paragraph 3 of Article 8).

2) Any person who intends to store or set up facilities(hazardous materials facilities) to handle hazardous materials beyond a certain quantity (specified quantity) must obtain permission from the municipal mayors or other competent authorities in advance (Paragraph 4 of Article 10 and Paragraph 1 of Article 11 ).

3) It is stipulated that the transportation of hazardous materials shall conform to certain standards with regards to the packagings, the loading methods, and the transportation methods of the said hazardous materials (Article 16).

4) With respect to fire equipment used for fire fighting, necessary regulations are provided in order to guarantee that said fire equipment have definite performance and other qualities (Article 21-2, etc.).

(3) CABINET ORDER AND MINIETRIAL ORDINANCES
Fire Service Law Enforcement Order
Cabinet Order Concerning the Control of Hazardous Materials
Fire Service Law Enforcement Regulation
Regulations Concerning the Control of Hazardous Materials
Ministerial Ordinance on the Technical Specifications for Fire-Extinguishers

(4) OUTLINE OF THE CONTROL
1) Object Covered
Flame retardant items (such as curtains and carpets etc), hazarous materials facilities, (hazardous materials)packagings, equipment for protection and fire fighting.

2) Outline of the Control
i. Content of the Control
(a) Flame retardant items
Each type of flame retardant items shall be to satisfy the performance requirements prescribed for flame retardant items.

(b) Hazardous materials
Materials listed on the Attached Table 1 (oxidizing solids, combustible solids, spontaneously combustible materials and water-prohibitive materials, flammable liquids, self-reactive materials, oxidizing liquids) that retain the same characteristics as those listed in the respective criteria on the Table.

(c) Hazardous materials facilities
Any hazardous materials facilities, according to the types or purposes of the said facilities (such as factories, outdoor tank storage facilities, etc.), must satisfy the standards prescribed for their location, structure and equipment according to the quantity or danger level of the said hazardous materials handled or stored in the site.

<Hazardous materials packagings>
Packagings must have certain performance, which in principle shall be made of materials suitable for hazardous materials to be packed, and comply with certain standards as to their materials, structure, and maximum capacity.
Incidentally, if the packagings conform to the standards recommended by the UN ("Recommendation on the Transport of Dangerous Goods"), they are considered to conform to the standards prescribed by the Fire Service Law in principle.

(d) Fire prevention equipment
With regards to the 14 items, including fire extinguishers, sprinkler heads, detectors, control and indicating equipment for automatic fire alarm system, which are subject to qualification examination, the technical standards are set on their configuration, construction, composite material quality, chemical composition and performance by Ordinance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communication (Article 21-2, Enforcement Order for the Fire Services Law, Article 37).
Japan is a participant in ISO/TC2l, (the technical committee on equipment for fire protection and fire fighting), deliberation related to the international standards for equipment for fire protection and fire fighting.

ii. Certification System
(a) Flame retardant items
Flame retardant items shall not be sold as flame retardant products or displayed for sales unless labeling that products have flame retardant performance (Article 8-3).
Since the registration confirmation organization tests whether or not flame retardant products have their performance prescribed by the Fire Services Law and Regulations, any person who requests testing shall submit a written request for a flame retardant performance test and testing materials to the registration confirmation organization.
Furthermore, the organization accepts the test data of foreign testing agencies by establishing the "Guideline concerning Acceptance of Foreign Testing Data in Testing Operation such as Fire Retardant Products".

(b) Hazardous materials
Packagings for transportation of hazardous materials conforming to the standards recommended by the UN, are affixed with the UN markings. Any packagings for transportation with UN markings, even if labeled by a foreign agency or a similar authority, are treated as packagings that conform to the technical standards for transportation as prescribed under the Fire Service Law in principle.

(c) Fire prevention equipment
With regards to any machine, apparatus and other equipment subject to qualification examination, requisite is provided as confirmation of compliance with the technical specifications as defined in the Ordinance of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications (model approval), and of individual products having the identical measures and other model criteria as in the model approval for the respective devices (individual inspection). Prior to model approval, however, testing by the Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Institute or a designated testing organization is required.
Efforts are being made to implement a simpler and faster procedure for inspection and to accept test data of foreign testing agencies.
With regards to any machine, apparatus and other equipment subject to qualification examination, the application for model approval thereof must be addressed to the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications and the application for the model approval and lot inspection should be addressed to the Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Institute or designated inspection agencies.

(5) HIGHLIGHTS OF RECENT AMENDMENTS
The amendment of the law in June, 2004 introduced mandatory installation of fire prevention devices in residential housings, and strengthened standards concerning storage or handling of designated combustible materials, etc.

(6) REFERENCE INFORMATION
(Liaison Offices for Further Information)
Fire and Disaster Management Agency http://www.fdma.go.jp
Fire Prevention division:
Tel: 03-5574-0123
Dangerous Goods Safety Office:
Tel: 03-5253-7524
Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Institute http://www.jfeii.or.jp