Please pay due attention to the following on the actual application of the requirements of the amended Building Standard Law on Sick House Issues, enforced on July 1,2003.

1. Common basic points
   •   The new requirements of the amended Building Standard Law on Sick House Issues are only effective for buildings whose construction is begun on or after July 1 (including buildings whose building confirmation was issued on or before June 30, 2003).
     The new requirements are not effective for buildings whose construction was begun on or before June 30, 2003.
   •   The building materials which have become subject to controls are listed exclusively in Notification No.1113 of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, 2002 (hereinafter referred to as the Notification building materials). Built-in furniture, kitchen cabinets, etc. using the Notification building materials are also subject to controls. When using the Notification building materials for interior finishing materials, etc., it is required to classify these materials into the class (grade) of formaldehyde-emission.
   •   Note that materials other than Notification building materials can be used without restriction as interior finishing materials in habitable rooms and as materials used in ceiling cavities, etc. because these materials have almost no formaldehyde emission.

2. Points for designers, superintendents of construction work and housing suppliers
   •   In the application stage for building confirmation, it is sufficient to clarify only the class (grade) of the Notification building materials in the table of building materials which are intended to be used. It is not necessary to specify the individual product names, identification of JIS, JAS, Ministerial Approval, etc.
   •   In the interim and final inspection stages, it is required to submit the records of acceptance inspection which give a concrete and detailed description of the class (grade), category, quantity, labels or documents, etc. for confirmation (JIS, JAS, copy of Ministerial Approval certificate, etc.) as well as other items regarding superintendence of construction work concerning all interior finishing materials.

3. Points for sales and import agents
   •   It is highly advisable to obtain JIS, JAS, Ministerial Approval, etc of the Notification building materials as early as possible if you have not done yet. It is advisable to consult with the contact points of Designated Performance Evaluation Organizations whose evaluation report is necessary prior to Ministerial Approval.
   •   There are considerable numbers of products using the Notification building materials which are not certified as JIS, JAS, Ministerial Approval, etc. or which are the course of evaluation. Actual application of the requirements on such building materials is as follows:
     •   In the application stage for building confirmation, it is sufficient to clarify only the class (grade) of the Notification building materials in the table of building materials which are intended to be used. It is not necessary to specify individual product names, identification of JIS, JAS, Ministerial Approval, etc.
     •   In the interim and final inspection stages, it is required to submit the records on acceptance inspection which describes class (grade), etc. of building materials and it is necessary to obtain JIS, JAS and Ministerial Approval which clarifies the class (grade) of the products using the Notification building materials prior to on-site acceptance inspection.
   •   It is not necessary to label materials other than Notification building materials such as F***.

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