Author
Stay Buddy Inc.
When operating a lodging business, including a Special Zone Minpaku, compliance with fire safety regulations is mandatory. This article briefly explains the requirements you must meet under fire safety laws.
Establishing a Fire Prevention Management System
If the total occupancy capacity of the entire building is 30 people or more, a fire prevention management system must be established. Specifically, a fire prevention manager must be appointed for the whole building. This fire prevention manager must be selected by the building owner or management association from among individuals who hold the required qualification.
Fire Prevention Management Systems for Detached Houses
In typical detached houses, occupancy rarely exceeds 30 people. For example, when hosting families or group travelers in a standard minpaku operation, the maximum occupancy is often around 10 people. Therefore, for minpaku operations in detached houses, the need to appoint a fire prevention manager is unlikely to arise.
Fire Prevention Management Systems for Apartment Buildings and Condominiums
For minpaku operations in apartment buildings or condominiums, the total occupancy of the entire building is more likely to exceed 30 people.
For example, consider a seven-story studio apartment building with four units per floor, totaling 28 units. If each unit has a capacity of 2 people, the building’s total occupancy is 28 people, meaning a fire prevention manager would not be required.
However, if other owners begin minpaku operations in the same building and total occupancy exceeds 30 people, a fire prevention manager must be appointed. In such cases, you would need to request that the landlord or the management association establish a fire prevention management system.
Preparing Fire-Resistant Items
Minpaku operations require the use of fire-resistant items for fabric products such as curtains, blinds, roll screens, and carpets.
How to Choose Fire-Resistant Items
Fire-resistant items refer to “products that have been treated to resist burning.” In minpaku facilities, examples include curtains, carpets, tapestries, and fabric blinds. You can determine whether these fabric products are fire-resistant by checking the “fire-resistance label” attached to the product.
However, products with fire-resistance labels often have limited design options, making it difficult to find stylish designs at an affordable price. In particular, curtains and roll screens sold at typical furniture stores or home centers often lack fire-resistance labels, so caution is needed.
Key Points to Watch Out for When Choosing Fire-Resistant Items
Products Without a Fire-Resistance Label Are Not Allowed
Even inexpensive, stylish products cannot be used if they lack a fire-resistance label.
Products with Fire-Resistance Labels Have Limited Options
Some fire-resistant curtains have overly simple designs that may not match your desired atmosphere. In such cases, consider fire-resistant custom-order products.
Pay Attention to Size as Well
Fabric products with an area of less than 1 square meter, such as small mats or bath mats, do not need to be fire-resistant. However, all fabric products with an area of 1 square meter or more must be fire-resistant.
Tips for Choosing Fire-Resistant Items
Fire-resistant items are essential from a safety standpoint, but you may not want to compromise on design. In such cases, the following approaches can help you balance practicality with design.
Search at Specialty Stores
Using specialty shops or curtain manufacturers that focus on fire-resistant items can expand your options.
Use Online Shopping
Many fire-resistant products are available online, making it easy to compare designs and prices—we recommend this approach.
Consider Custom-Order Products
As long as they meet fire-resistance specifications, you can also specify the design and materials for custom-order items. If your budget allows, this option is also recommended. Fire-resistant items are an essential factor in enhancing the overall safety of your facility. Rather than choosing based on design alone, select products that comply with the regulations to create an environment where guests can stay with peace of mind.
Clearance Distances
When installing fire-using equipment such as stoves or water heaters in a minpaku property, you must maintain an appropriate distance from surrounding walls and flammable materials. This is known as the clearance distance, and it is an important factor for ensuring safety. Clearance distance refers to maintaining a certain distance to reduce the risk that arises when fire-using equipment or appliances are installed near combustible materials. This distance varies depending on the type of equipment and the material of the installation location (combustible or non-combustible).
Clearance Distance for Water Heaters
For water heaters, the required clearance distance varies depending on the type. The main types of water heaters are as follows.
1. Types That Draw Air from Indoors and Exhaust Indoors
This type requires particular caution, as it is likely to affect the indoor environment.
2. Types That Draw Air from Indoors and Exhaust Outdoors
Since exhaust is released outdoors, make sure there are no combustible materials near the exhaust vent.
3. Types That Draw Air from Outdoors and Exhaust Outdoors
Since the installation location itself is outdoors, this type is relatively safe, but caution regarding surrounding combustible materials is still necessary.
Since clearance distance requirements differ depending on the type, be sure to check the instruction manual and maintain the appropriate distance during installation.
Points to Note Regarding Clearance Distance
For Apartment Buildings and Condominiums
In most cases with apartment buildings, stoves and water heaters are already properly installed from the outset. Since installation is carried out in compliance with the management association’s rules and the Building Standards Act, major issues are unlikely to occur.
For Old Detached Houses and Renovated Properties
When converting an old detached house, a row house, or a former office into a minpaku property, the installed water heaters or stoves often fail to meet the required standards. In particular, if equipment newly installed after renovation does not maintain the proper clearance distance, reinstallation may be necessary, so caution is required.
About the Fire Safety Compliance Notice
When filing a minpaku notification, submitting a “Fire Safety Compliance Notice” is mandatory. This notice is issued after applying to the fire chief with jurisdiction over the target facility and undergoing an on-site inspection by fire department staff to confirm that the facility complies with fire safety regulations.
Obtaining this notice is not easy. There are many cases where, after purchasing or leasing a property, owners find they cannot obtain the “Fire Safety Compliance Notice.” For this reason, it is crucial to thoroughly check whether the facility complies with the regulations before proceeding.
Additionally, in Osaka City, for “host-absent type” minpaku properties (those treated as “inns, hotels, lodging houses, or similar facilities”), a separate “Notification of Use (Change) of Fire Prevention Object” is also required. Be sure to keep this point in mind as you proceed with your plans.
Process for Obtaining the Fire Safety Compliance Notice
The steps to obtain the Fire Safety Compliance Notice are as follows.
1. Preliminary Consultation (Advance Confirmation of Fire Safety Compliance)
Consult with the fire department to confirm whether the facility complies with fire safety regulations.
2. Application for the Fire Safety Compliance Notice (Scheduling the Inspection Date)
Submit the necessary application documents and arrange a date for the inspection.
3. Document Review
The submitted documents are reviewed to confirm compliance with fire safety regulations.
4. Inspection (Attendance Required)
An on-site inspection of the facility is conducted. The owner or a relevant representative is required to be present.
5. Decision on Issuance of the Fire Safety Compliance Notice
Based on the inspection results, a decision is made on whether to issue the notice.
6. Issuance of the Fire Safety Compliance Notice
The notice is finally issued.
Consult Stay Buddy for Minpaku Applications, Including Fire Safety Compliance!
Legal compliance is essential to a successful minpaku business, and compliance with fire safety regulations is especially critical. Stay Buddy provides comprehensive support for everything needed for minpaku applications, including fire safety compliance. If you have any concerns about minpaku applications or fire safety compliance, please feel free to contact Stay Buddy. We are committed to giving you our full support.
