Kento-kunThis memo provides a clear summary of the laws frequently used in the design of new wooden houses and small-scale buildings.
Kento-kunI’ve got to study hard again today!
Today, let’s learn about “habitable rooms.”
Today’s basic architectural design topic is habitable rooms.
A habitable room is defined in Article 2, Item 4 of Japan’s Building Standard Law.
This is a very important rule because the applicable standards change depending on whether a room is classified as a habitable room or non-habitable room. For example, habitable rooms are subject to requirements for natural lighting and ventilation, which means they must have windows of a certain minimum size.
(Definitions of Terms)
Article 2 In this Law, the meanings of the terms listed in the following items shall be as prescribed respectively in those items.
(iv) Habitable room: A room used continuously for the purposes of living, working, labor, assembly, entertainment, or other similar purposes.
Source: Article 2 of Japan’s Building Standard Law
Kento-kunWhether a room is considered a habitable room depends on whether it is a room used continuously.
More specifically, it refers to a room that is continuously used by people, even if the occupants change from time to time.
| Examples of Habitable Rooms | Examples of Non-Habitable Rooms |
|---|---|
| Living room, dining room, bedroom, Western-style room, reception room, study, hobby room, housekeeping room, free space, workroom, loading/unloading room, guard room, break room, duty room, assembly room, audience seating area, changing room (public bath), bathroom (public bath), sauna room (public bath), clinic waiting room, clinic X-ray room, office workspace, office room, meeting room, lobby (hotel or apartment building), kitchen (restaurant), etc. | Entrance hall, corridor (if it is used like a lobby, it may be considered a habitable room), stairs, toilet, washroom, bathroom (in a house), storage room, pantry, kitchen (only in very small-scale cases; see commentary on fire safety and evacuation regulations). |
Kento-kunBut what if the way the room is used may change in the future?
What should we do in that case?
Kento-kunIn that case, it is better to design the room as a habitable room from the outset. In particular, once a building is completed, the designer is less likely to remain involved, and that can lead to incorrect judgments later. So it is better to design on the safe side. It is also very important to ask the client in advance how the room may be used in the future.
Kento-kunI see. Since Japan’s Building Standard Law only sets minimum standards, if there is any doubt about whether a room is habitable or non-habitable, it is generally safer for users to design it as a habitable room.
Kento-kunFinally, one additional note.
If you own a condominium, apartment building, or detached house and plan to convert a storage room or utility room in the building into a room that people will use on a regular basis, it is very important to consult a licensed Japanese architect first. You should be careful, because if the building becomes non-compliant, you may be subject to penalties under Japanese law.
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