Japan, Meet With Notification…Certification Is Invalid

Notification is not Mandatory, Performance Evaluation is the Other Option


Seminar on Japanese elevator regulation and safety evaluation was held. Last month 21 in Korea testing lab(hereunder KTL), Mr. Hiroshi. Kamaike, accrediting and evlauating manager in Japanese construction equipment·elevator center, presented on Japanese elevator regulation and safety evaluation especially, on uncontrolled movement.
Elevator law structure in Japan is composed of law, ordinance, notification, substitutive certification and job manual. The major difference is certification on safety components.  In Japan, elevator built as notification, there no need certification on it.
Accordingly, elevator companies only have to confirm on drawings by administration office, and also, if Korean companies meet the notification then can export their products to Japan. But in Japan, notification is not mandatory. If elevator have a special structure, the elevator need performance evaluation by notified body.
Performance evaluation for substitutive certification is carried out by National traffic agency but type certification·type evaluation is carried out by BEEC(Buliding Equipment and Elevator Center).
Mr. Hiroshi. Kamaike is worked for BEEC on that field.
This evaluation is for minimizing process of manufacturer meanwhile their main product is home elevator and checking evaluation which is BEEC's original job is for the elevator certified in China and other countries.

UCMP, all time powered type is major…stnad-by type is only for remodeling elevator

Especially, law in Japan was revised, so there is no term on requiring 'Installation of preventing uncontrolled movement', so most elevator need substitutive certification. Accordingly, the job boundary of BEEC is now extended.
According to law, Japanes law ,also same as Korea, require uncontrolled movement preventing(UCMP) device such as double brake or rope brake for elevator.
In Japan, there are two type of double brake exist. One is stand-by type such as rope brake and the other is all time powered type such as normal brake with emergency function. All time powered type is major and stand-by type is only for remodeling elevator in Japan. Stand-by brake is required to control 150% of total load in cargo elevator and 100% of the load in passenger one.
All time powered type which have two or more brake is required to control 150% of total load in cargo elevator and 100% of the load in passenger elevator with one brake.
Especially, All time powered type brake need sensor for detecting movement, if the brake is activated on emergency case then the brake need check by maintenance person for normal use.
Also, according to UCMP job manual, it need additional sensors for detecting car movements for stopping car within safety range of movement when car move with opening door.
On top of this, floor level of car and landing level is no more than 50cm added on sit height for parking elevator and the others need 100cm.
The participants gave a good evaluation on this seminar. On the other hands, KTL made agreement on elevator safety promotion with BEEC(Buliding Equipment and Elevator Center) and cooperation on factory inspection, components testing and so on.

Reporter_J.H.Lee(jhlee@liftasia.com)