Please describe the certification system for sprinklers, fire alarms and other fire protection machines and tools.
According to the type of fire protection machines and tools, there are examinations conducted by the Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Institute or a designated testing organization , model approval by the Minister of Internal Affairs and communications and individual inspection of fire protection machines and tools, labeling of individual inspection is required for all products that pass these tests.
1. The Minister of Home Affairs provides model approval for fire protection machinery and equipment prescribed by cabinet order through technical specifications set by ministerial ordinances. Each item must pass examinations conducted by the Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Institute or a designated testing organization before obtaining model approval. In addition, a designated testing organization implements an individual inspection even if the same product has already obtained model approval before labeling. Such products cannot be sold unless a label of passing an individual inspection is affixed.
2. Items subject to inspections (Article 37 of the Enforcement Order)
1) Fire extinguishers
2) Extinguishing agents for fire extinguishers (excluding carbon dioxide)
3) Foam extinguishing agents (excluding those stipulated by a Ministerial Ordinance of Home Affairs.This is also applicable to Annex Table 3)
4) Fire hoses
5) Metal couplings of a snap or screw type used for fire hoses and metal couplings of a screw type used for suction hoses for fire fighting (referred to as "metal couplings" in Annex Table 3 )
6) Detectors of fire alarm systems (only those which automatically detect a fire by heat ,smoke or flame of a fire) or transmitters
7) Relays
8) Receivers used in a fire alarm system
9) Fire alarm systems of electric leakage
10) Closed type of sprinkler heads
11) Water flow detecting devices
12) Deluge valves
13) Metallic escape ladders, Descending lifelines
14) Descending lifelines
Incidentally, the Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Institute has established "Standards Concerning the Designation of Foreign Testing Organizations" and accepts foreign inspection data.