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Fire Protection Management and Disaster Protection Management

1. Basic Idea

The idea of fire protection management is to plan and carry out measures to prevent fires and minimize the damage caused by fires.

The "entitled" persons (*1) responsible for the management of large public assembly places (with a certain number of occupant load or more) need to appoint fire protection managers (*2) and practice fire protection management (*3). [Article 8, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law]

1. Basic Idea 1

In addition, large buildings are required to have disaster protection managers (*2) in preparation for earthquakes and the special incidents caused by toxic or radioactive materials (*4). [Article 36, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law]

In this case, one person is to act as a fire protection manager and disaster protection manager. [Article 36, Section 2 of the Fire Service Law]

Furthermore, in terms of smooth, effective disaster response, large buildings need to organize their own private fire brigades for the early stage firefighting, emergency reporting (to the fire department), and evacuation that are necessary in case of fires, earthquakes or other disasters. [Article 8-2-5, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law]

If there are several entitled persons found in a building, the building owners need to take the initiative to establish a private fire brigade. [Article 4-2-5, Section 2 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Order]

"You should protect your own life and properties."-this is the principle of fire protection management and disaster protection management. We need to improve fire and disaster protection measures to prevent fires and mitigate the damage from disasters.

1. Basic Idea 2
*1. Entitled persons

They are responsible for fire protection management. They are, for example, building owners, business managers or tenants.

*2. Fire protection managers/Disaster protection managers

They are responsible for the promotion of fire/disaster protection management.

They are the "leaders" well informed of fire/disaster protection management.

One person is to act as a fire protection manager and disaster protection manager.

*3. Fire protection management

Fire protection managers need to conduct the following:

  • Preparation of fire protection plans for fire protection management
  • Training of firefighting, emergency reporting (to the fire department), and evacuation
  • Inspection and maintenance of fire protection equipment
  • Guidance in the proper handling of open flames, heaters, etc.
  • Management and maintenance of evacuation/fire prevention systems and equipment
  • Control of the number of people in buildings
  • Others
3. Fire protection management
*4. Disaster protection management

Disaster protection managers need to conduct the following:

  • Preparation of fire protection plans for disaster protection management
  • Evacuation drill
  • Others

2. Buildings with Fire Protection Managers Needed [Article 1-2, Section 3 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Order]

  • Social welfare facilities (with 10 or more people admitted) for "infirm" people, who would have much difficulty in evacuating themselves in a fire
  • Public assembly facilities (with 30 or more people admitted) like theaters, restaurants, stores, hotels, hospitals, etc.
  • Apartment houses, schools, factories, warehouses, offices, etc. with 50 or more people admitted

3. Buildings with Disaster Protection Managers Needed [Article 46 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Order]

*Also, the buildings with private fire brigades [Article 4-2-4 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Order]

  • Buildings with 11 or more floors excluding basement(s), and with a total floor area of 10,000 square meters or more
  • Buildings with 5 to 10 floors excluding basement(s), and with a total floor area of 20,000 square meters or more
  • Buildings with 4 or less floors excluding basement(s), and with a total floor area of 50,000 square meters or more
  • Underground shopping areas with a total floor area of 1,000 square meters or more

4. Requirements for a Fire Protection Manager and a Disaster Protection Manager [Article 3, Section 1 and Article 47, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Order]

The managers need to be through with the two-day Fire and Disaster Protection Manager's Course or well informed of fire prevention and disaster preparedness, and eligible for a safety supervising job.

5. Private Fire Brigades [Article 4-2-8 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Order/ Article 4-2-10, Sections 3 and 4 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Regulation]

A private fire brigade consists of a chief and the leaders of the initial stage firefighting group, the 1-1-9 call and reporting group, the evacuation group and the first aid group. The chief and leaders need to be through with the two-day Private Fire Brigade Training Course or well informed of a private fire brigade system.

6. Details: Fire and Disaster Protection Management

  • Preparation of a Fire Protection Plan

    The manager needs to prepare a feasible, effective plan according to the actual situation of the workplace. The plan can be "variedly" (yet clearly) made for everyone to understand with ease. (See the Tokyo Fire Department website for samples.)

  • Fire Prevention Guidance

    With the fire protection plan completed, the manager needs to give guidance to every building/facility member in the content of the plan and safety regulations as well as the importance of fire and disaster protection.

  • Private Fire Brigade Training

    The manager needs to give firefighting, emergency reporting and evacuation training to the employees in preparation for a fire, an earthquake, etc. according to the fire protection plan. Places casually visited by a number of people, such as restaurants and stores, need the training at least twice a year, and other buildings once a year or more.

  • Revision of a Fire Protection Plan

    The plan needs to be changed, if necessary, after private fire brigade training.

6. Details: Fire and Disaster Protection Management

7. Reporting to the Local Fire Station

  • On the designation of the fire/disaster protection manager, the entitled person needs to report the fact to the local fire station chief. [Article 8, Section 2 and Article 36, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law]
  • The fire/disaster protection manager, instructed by the entitled person, needs to draw up a fire protection plan and report it to the local fire station chief. [Article 3, Section 1 and Article 51-8, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law Enforcement Regulation]
  • On the establishment of the private fire brigade, the entitled person needs to report the number of the brigade members and other necessary matters to the local fire station chief. [Article 8-2-5, Section 2 of the Fire Service Law]

8. Penal Provisions

  • With no fire/disaster protection manager designated, the fire department may order the entitled person to designate the manager. [Article 8, Section 3 and Article 36, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law]
  • With fire/disaster protection management not performed by the fire/disaster protection manager according to the provisions of laws and orders or the fire protection plan, the fire department may order the entitled person to take necessary measures. [Article 8, Section 4 and Article 36, Section 1 of the Fire Service Law]
  • With no private fire brigade organized, the fire department may order the entitled person to organize the brigade. [Article 8-2-5, Section 3 of the Fire Service Law]
  • Violation of the (1) above is punishable by the imprisonment of up to six months or a fine of up to 500,000 yen. [Article 42, Section 1, Clause 1 of the Fire Service Law]
  • Violation of the (2) above is punishable by the imprisonment of up to a year or a fine of up to 1,000,000 yen. [Article 41, Section 1, Clause 2 of the Fire Service Law]
8. Penal Provisions

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