Originally Posted by
5khours
I actually know a little bit about it since I had the misfortune of having to manage a $350 million mixed use development project that included lodging. That's why having spent countless hours with engineers, consultants, architects and builders on this subject, I'm skeptical that's there much in there beyond the normal fire and earthquake regs that provides any additional safety benefit. If you look objectively at health safety risks in Japan, I think besides the fire/earthquake regs the only thing for which is there is a reasonable actuarial argument is insect screens in the windows.... or maybe asteroid shields.
Others may have a different opinion, but IMHO Japan is way over-regulated and this (together with the confiscatory tax rates) is the reason Japan is in an economic death spiral. Had Japan de-regulated and reduced taxes in the late 80's per the recommendations of the Maekawa report, the economy would be twice the size it currently is and the health/safety (and other) benefits accruing to doubling everyone's income would vastly outweigh any possible benefit derived from the regulations. Just saying
..... others may have a different opinion.
Well that is certainly reason enough to understand licensing, conditions associated with different licenses directly related to safety, and staffing, liaising, and area responsibilities associated with developing an area.
Which is why the comment that "beyond the normal Fire & earthquake regs" there is not much there seems inconsistent with the experience described.
Would be worth your investigating. It is a rather involved topic. Suffice it to say there is likely not one single household dwelling owner that comes even close to covering the bases one must. If they came up to speed and were regularly checked to ensure compliance then I'd be all for it.
It is notable that Japan is quite regulated, sometimes maddeningly so, but it still works a lot better than any other country home to as large an economy and 1st world cities. It's always a trade off but so far do good over here for me :-).