Report of Market Access Ombudsman Council (May 13, 1994)

4-(3) Relaxing Testing and Certification Requirements for Buildings with Unique Two-story Structure

1. Complainant: Embassy of the United States

2. Ministry concerned: Ministry of Construction

3. Complaint:

The two-story house in this complaint is similar in structure to a barrel, with outer walls consisting of 28 panels held together by hoops from the outside, and with the outer walls supporting the weight of the roof. Unlike traditional Japanese construction, this eliminates the need for posts to support the roof and yields large, unobstructed space. This type of housing, since it is built according to this special method, does not meet Japanese building standards and needs a certification by the Minister for Construction according to Article 38 of the Building Standard Law that it meets or exceeds the safety requirements set out in the Building Standard Law.

The complainant has pointed out that since structural calculation methods used for buildings built according to domestic construction methods were used in the technical examination to certify one-story housing built according to the above-described method, various strengthening measures were imposed, lowering the product value of the structure.

Therefore, the complainant believes that this type of structure should be certified under Article 38 using examination methods appropriate for the structure in question.

4. Results of deliberation:

Certification under Article 38 of the Building Standard Law is intended for structures built according to different methods than domestic building methods, and while examination for safety must be conducted carefully and strictly, methods other than those for domestic building methods may be used for structural calculation. The most appropriate method of evaluating the safety of the structure should be used, as far as possible in technical terms.

Accordingly, in this case, examination should be carried out soon to satisfy the complainant, using a structural calculation method appropriate to the structure in question.

The ministry concerned, based on discussions with the complainant, is currently studying structural calculation methods appropriate for the structure.

Government decision (June 24, 1994)

4-(3) Minister's approval based on Article 38 of the Building Standard Law relating to buildings with unique two-story structure

The two-story structure in this complaint is of a special type which does not meet domestic building standards. Safety will be evaluated soon, using a structural calculation method which appropriately evaluates its characteristics.

Follow-up (June 5, 1995)

4-(3) Relaxing Testing and Certification Requirements for Buildings with Unique Two-story Structure

The ministry concerned, based on discussions with the complainant, studied structural calculation methods appropriate for the structure in question, and since the complainant prepared documentation on evaluation of safety based on those calculation methods, a designated testing organization accepted the application for technical evaluation in April 1995.

After completion of technical evaluation, approval procedures will be taken if the complainant submits an application for certification by the Minister under Article 38 of the Building Standards Law, accompanied by the certificate of technical evaluation obtained.