In December of last year, after a clinic in Kita-ku, Osaka was set on fire and 26 people were killed, the government relaxed the restrictions on buildings called "existing ineligible" that do not meet the Building Standards Act. Partial renovations related to fire prevention and evacuation will be permitted.
In the arson incident in Kita-ku, Osaka last December, when 26 people were involved and died, the building containing the clinic that was the site had only one staircase leading to the ground.
In principle, the Building Standards Law Enforcement Ordinance requires that buildings on the 6th floor and above should have at least two stairs leading to the ground, but this building is subject to regulations after 1974. It is believed to have been an "existing ineligible" that does 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. In some cases, the owner hesitated because the burden of expenses was large because it was necessary to meet the requirements.
In response to the incident in Osaka, the national government has recently revised the Building Standards Law to ease the requirements for renovation, and has partially renovated the building, which was previously limited to small-scale earthquake-resistant construction. Will also be accepted for cases related to fire prevention and evacuation.
The provisions of this law are expected to come into effect within two years, and the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism will consider specific standards in the future and will specify them in the enforcement order.