Is your apartment earthquake-proof?
Mainichi Shimbun reports that worried residents are calling to ask about the safety of their apartment buildings, following an announcement by the Chiba Prefectural Government that a scandal-hit architectural office accused of falsifying earthquake resistance data worked on 194 buildings across 22 prefectures.
At the center of the investigation scandal is the Aneha Architect Design Office. Chiba Prefectural Government officials conducted an investigation into the 194 buildings, including 21 problem structures that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had already listed. Tokyo Association of Architectural Firms set up an inquiry section on Monday, and since then it has received about 60 inquiries, including those from people worried about new homes they are planning to move into.
Read more here and here.
The problem seems to be that the state-authorized building inspection agency eHomes failed to carry out proper checks in the process of building confirmation. This agency was responsible for confirming that the structural data met the required earthquake safety standards, according to NHK. I don't understand why the government is letting a private entity carry out such important checks, but I suppose this shows that the watchdog needs a watchdog.
At the center of the investigation scandal is the Aneha Architect Design Office. Chiba Prefectural Government officials conducted an investigation into the 194 buildings, including 21 problem structures that the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport had already listed. Tokyo Association of Architectural Firms set up an inquiry section on Monday, and since then it has received about 60 inquiries, including those from people worried about new homes they are planning to move into.
Read more here and here.
The problem seems to be that the state-authorized building inspection agency eHomes failed to carry out proper checks in the process of building confirmation. This agency was responsible for confirming that the structural data met the required earthquake safety standards, according to NHK. I don't understand why the government is letting a private entity carry out such important checks, but I suppose this shows that the watchdog needs a watchdog.
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