Draft report on the establishment of a "evacuation zone" by the study group of the country receiving the arson of the Osaka Building

A national study group, which had been discussing countermeasures in response to the incident in which a building in Kita-ku, Osaka was set on fire and killed 26 people, temporarily secured safety for a building with only one evacuation staircase. We have put together a draft report that states that a "evacuation area" will be set up.

In response to the incident in which a clinic was set on fire in a building in Kita-ku, Osaka last December, and 26 people were killed, a national expert meeting, which has been discussing fire prevention and evacuation measures, drafted a report at the meeting on the 21st. I summarized.

According to it, it is pointed out that it is a heavy burden on society to uniformly regulate measures against malicious arson, such as sprinkling gasoline on the evacuation route and igniting it, and new restrictions should not be set. ..

On top of that, if there is room in the site for a building that has only one staircase that connects to the ground, such as the building where the incident occurred, it is recommended to add stairs to be used for evacuation or install an outdoor balcony.

Furthermore, since it is assumed that evacuation will not be possible in buildings where countermeasures are difficult, it is possible to increase the number of doors that block flames and smoke indoors and to establish an "evacuation area" to temporarily secure safety before rescue such as fire fighting. It is said to be valid.

The draft report was approved at the meeting, and the country will soon develop guidelines for fire protection and evacuation measures for buildings with only one staircase.

On the other hand, in order to promote such measures, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism amended the Building Standards Law this month to allow partial repairs related to fire prevention and evacuation for "existing ineligible" buildings to which the regulations do not apply. rice field.

Professor Shinichi Sugawara of Nihon University Graduate School, who chairs the study group, said, "Buildings with one staircase always have structural risks, and it is necessary to take measures to reduce the risks as much as possible. It's important. "

Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications Fire and Disaster Management Agency Report the cause investigation result of the fire

At the national study meeting on the 21st, the results of a fire cause investigation conducted locally by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications regarding the arson incident in Kita-ku, Osaka last December were also reported.

According to this, a gasoline component was detected from the floor near the entrance of the clinic on the 4th floor of the building where the fire broke out, and a lighter was also found in front of the elevator.

In the photo of the waiting room near the place where the fire broke out, the ceiling collapsed and it can be seen that it burned particularly violently.

In the photo of the corridor leading from the waiting room where the victims were found and the examination room behind it, black soot is attached to the walls and ceiling.

In addition, according to a simulation by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications, black smoke filled the clinic in the back just one minute after the fire broke out, and a few minutes later the carbon monoxide concentration became extremely high, and the evacuated person was poisoned. It was also reported that he was thought to have suffered from carbon poisoning.

In addition, many people were killed because the gasoline used for arson caused rapid combustion and a fire broke out in front of the entrance, which was the only evacuation route. The cause is that he had to evacuate.

Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism to revise the Building Standard Law

The building that was the site of the arson incident had only one staircase that was required to be installed at least by the Enforcement Ordinance of the Building Standards Act.

This standard targets buildings after 1974, and it is believed that this building was "existing ineligible" to which the regulations do not apply.

According to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism, there are "existing ineligible" multi-tenant buildings nationwide, such as having only one evacuation staircase. There were cases where the owner hesitated for reasons such as cost because it had to be met.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism amends the Building Standards Act in response to this incident, etc., and permits partial renovation of buildings, which was previously limited to small-scale earthquake-resistant construction, even in cases related to fire prevention and evacuation. have become.

The provisions of this law are expected to come into effect within two years, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will proceed with the examination of specific standards based on the discussions at this study group, and will stipulate the policy in the enforcement order.