Electrical safety for housings, etc.

in Japan

Kansai Electrical Safety Inspection Association

Department of Electrical Safety Verification

Electrical safety for general

households etc
households, etc.
Classification of p
power facilities
Power facilities

Power facilities for general use

Power facilities for business use
They are those client facilities that
・electrical power companies
receive low-voltage (600 V or lower)
generating stations,
electric p
power,, such as general
g
transmission lines,
lines etc
households
and stores
・Power facilities for private use
They are those client facilities that
receive high
high-voltage
voltage
(higher than 600 V) electric power,
such as factories and buildings
Classification of power facilities in general
households etc
households, etc.
Indoor wiring for equipment
ranging from distribution
6,600V
6 600V switchboard
it hb d to t lighting
li hti
equipment, electrical outlets,
etc.

Insulator

Lead-in wire Distribution switchboard

１００V,２００V

Lead-in wire's attachment point

アンペアブレーカー
Current limiting circuit breaker
Power meter

Wiring for service entrance

P
Power ffacilities
iliti for
f business
b i use Power facilities for general use

(Note, however, that the power meters and current limiting circuit breakers
are properties of an electric power company.)

Wiring arrangement for general households

[reference data]
※The wiring g arrangement
g
is made based on
The single-phase
three-wire system to
which a voltageg of
100 VAC or 200 VAC
is applied

※The voltage to ground

for indoor wiring is,
in principle,
150 V or below.
below.

Lead-
L d-in
Lead i wire
i

※ The earthing
system of Japan
Measuring apparatus
is TT type earthing
system.

Distribution switchboard
Electrical safety system and laws, regulations
or ordinances for general households
households, etc
etc.
Laws to ensure electrical safety
y
・ Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law
Power facilities ・ Electric constructor Law
・ Electric
Elect ic Business
B siness Act
for general use

Electricity Utilities Industry Law

・ Obligation imposed on electric power ・ Compliance inspection to check

companies to conduct inspection for conformity to technical standards
・ Consignment to registration ・ Electrical
El t i l safety
f t inspection
i ti
inspection organization body.

・ Order for conformity to technical standards

Direct supervision by
・ On-the-spot inspection conducted by
the Japanese government
the Japanese government officials

Electrical safety system for client facilities

receiving high
high-voltage
voltage electric power
Self-managing of Mandatory compliance with technical standards
electrical safety
y
Preparation, notification and observance
Preparation
of electrical safety regulations

Appointment, and notification of

licensed electrician or outsourcing

Statutory inspection for business operations

Self-managing is
Power facilities for
complemented by Safety management review
business use
the Japanese government
Approval or notification of planned project

Direct supervision by
the Japanese government Notification to start use
of power facilities for private use

Inspection before use,

A strict control system has periodical inspection
p p
been established for client
facilities receiving high-
high- Reporting obligation for accidents and others
voltage electric power than
for general households.
households. On-the-spot
p inspection
p

Order for conformity to the technical standards,

and order for improvement in electrical safety regulations
 Measures to ensure electrical safety
in general households,
households etc.
etc
①Manufacturing ③Maintenance
stage
②Construction stage and operation stage
Electrical Appliance Electric constructor Law Electricity Utilities
and Material Safety Law and Electric Business Act Industry Law

To be conducted by an
electric power company
Final-completion Periodic inspection
or inspection institute
inspection service service
①Manufacturing stage (Manufacturing and selling of components and materials)
• Electrical Appliance and Material Safety Law
 This law regulates manufacturers and importers.
importers

②Construction stage
• Electric Constructor Law and other laws
 These laws regulate electric constructors and electric contractors.

③Maintenance and operation stage

• Electricity
El t i it Utilities
Utiliti Industry
I d t LawL
 This act regulates general households and electric power companies.

①Manufacturing stage
( l d
(including manufacturing
f andd selling
ll
of electrical components and materials)
Manufacturer Manufacturing Distribution

• Compliance
p with technical standards
for electrical appliances and materials The electrical appliances and
materials include electrical
wires, electrical wiring
devices and equipment,
and electrical equipment
for home use.
• Approval by a third party in private sector for quality
certification of electrical appliances and materials
Private-sector institutions
which conduct safety
tests, etc. for electric
products

• Sample-purchase inspection, modification In accordance with the “Consumer

Products Safety Act”, recall and
of products
products, etc
etc. other
h measures are taken k against
i
poor-quality products,
imitation products, etc.
 ②Construction stage
g
Workflow of quality assurance during electric work
El
Electrical
i l contractors Electric
l i power company
work
w
A qualified engineer

Examination of
speciffied by laws

drawings, etc.
Application for
Acceptance
p for use
electricity
l t i it use
e

Execution of It depends on
electric work electric power
must carry ou

company and a
s and regulations

registered testing
Self inspection organizations body.
ut the required

Notification of Acceptance for completed work

completion of work

Acceptance of inspection
results
lt Execution of final-
final-completion
inspection
Clients
Meeting the inspection
standards requirements
Delivery of electric equipment
specified by the Japanese
government

③Types and frequency of inspection services

at the maintenance and operation stage
Final-completion inspection Periodic inspection

Inspector ― An electric power company or an

This inspection is performed when inspection agency which is listed on the Japanese
a power facility for general household, government’s registry
etc is installed or expanded
etc. (electrical safety inspection association,
association
and modified
constructors’ association, etc. of each of Japan's
Once eve

prefectures or city governments).

・Confirmation of drawings as well
ery four yearrs

as off ffacility
ili and
d equipment
i
・Verification of insulating state,
• Checking for electric leakage
etc. • Inspection of power facilities
• Brief interview with clients about any problems
• Electrical
ect ca safety
sa ety instructions
st uct o s
(awareness-raising activities for electrical safety)

• The periodic inspection service is performed

once everyy four years.
y
• This inspection is performed once or more
every year for such facilities as schools,
hospitals and swimming pools.
Standards for electrical safety inspection
[Engineering standards of electrical facilities
and interpretation thereof]
• Earth works pursuant to Article 19, insulation performance
off low-voltage electrical circuit pursuant to Article 58, etc.

[[Policies for p
periodic inspection
p of p
power facilities for g
general use]] Earth work
①Content and frequency of inspection
The inspection should be made once or more every four years to check to see if the electrical
equipment for general households, etc. complies with the “Engineering standards of electrical
facilities” from the date on which the previous inspection was conducted. (Note, however, that
there are some pieces of equipment to which this inspection frequency does not apply apply.))
②How to conduct periodic inspection
• Insulating state should be verified through measurement using an insulation resistance tester
or a leakage current measuring device.
• After asking questions about any problems
problems, the inspection is performed for any visible areas
and a check is made to see if there is any defective part.
③Promoting modification
• The inspection shall be conducted once again in the event that a client who has been informed
of defect of his/her facility notifies that such facility is already modified.
• A modification shall be made as required to the equipment which is deemed to be important in
terms of electrical safety for prevention against poor insulation, etc.
④Keeping customers well informed of safety precautions when visiting with them for periodic
inspection
• Electrical safety precautions should be made well known to customers to prevent risk
associated with use of electricity.

Historical background
g and evaluation
Revised year of Intervals at which a periodic inspection is conducted
system
t
General households, etc. Movie theaters, etc.

1891 As required None

1896 *1 Once every year Once every year

1911 Once every year 4 times every year

1949 Once every two years Twice every year

1965 *2 Once every two years Once every two years
From1989 onward Once every four years Once ever year

*1 In 1896, a periodic inspection system was institutionalized.

*2 In 1965,
1965 scope of electric equipment for and responsibility
for electrical safety of general households, etc. was clarified.
 Changes in electrical fire accidents and
other accidents resulting from electric shock
Total no. of fire accidents No. of electrical fire accidents
○ Electrical fire accidents
70,000
56505
62913 62454 57460 account for about ４%
60,000 53276 54582
of the total fire
50,000
accidents (54,500) which
40,000
occurred in 2007 nationwide.
30,000
20,000 1658 2009 2579 2634 2575 2416
10 000
10,000
○ Generally,
y, electrical fire
2 9%
2.9% 3.2% 4.1% 4.6% 4.8% 4.4%
0
accidents tend to decrease.
1990 1995 2000 2005 2006 2007

A Fire Defense Agency

g y disaster p
prevention information room ［fire annual report］
report
p ］
○ Accidents resulting from
Casualties caused by electric shock electric shock have been on
a downward trend in recent
Death and injury from electricity Death from electricity
years, with deaths from
y
250 228
electric shock now 14 per year.
207
194 ○ According to the annual
200 222 180
186 160 171
164 168
136
statistics, the rate of death
150 155
157
from electricity is equivalent
139 131 157
100 116 130
115 to 0.2 persons or less out of
50 23 28
19 14
1-million people.
16 14
44 51 50 44 31 44 37 33 37 41 33 34 30 ○ In this past few years,
0 no death accident caused by
1989 1995 2001 2007
electric shock has occurred
in general households.
The data shown above is based on the survey data of Safety Division of Industrial Safety
and Health Department in Labour Standards Bureau of the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare in Japan

Social system regarding electrical safety

for general households, etc.
General households
Electrical works operators Manufacturer, etc.

• Issuance of certificate of
completed
l t d electrical
l t i l
work implementation
Insufficient knowledge
自主保安自己責任
of safety control • Reliability improvement in power
facilities and safety devices
• Product
・ 製品回収 recall
• Quality assurance under
responsibility of a person
in charge of execution
of electrical work
Electric power company
and inspection agency
• Inspection’s quality maintenance
• Public relations activity for
National government electrical safety
• Educational activity • Various service options
p
• Disclosure of information
• Legislative action by means of
establishment of electrical safety
standard, etc.
 Introduction to our inspection services
Visit the general family; and inspection in being at home

Typical
T i l amountt off time
ti required
i d for
f
a periodic inspection service for
general household is about 10 minutes,
and it costs about 1,000 yen.

Insulation resistance being measured

with a distribution switchboard

Explanation about safe use of electricity

For those customers who are not at home or whose power supply
cannot be cut off, the insulating state is checked for any defect.

Verification of insulating
g state through
g
leakage current measurement
(The acceptable leakage current value
should be 1 mA or less.)

Leakage current measurement at a customer’s site where an ordinary

measurement cannot be carried out readily.
 The future of electrical safety
for general households
A consciousness survey was conducted regarding the
current inspection system among 708 persons who were
randomly selected nationwide.
Results of questionnaire survey Results of questionnaire survey concerning the
concerning evaluation made on details of current contents of the inspection duties
the current inspection services imposed on electric power companies

No idea
The details No idea
7% The
should be 7% inspection
improved.
duties
17%
imposed on
Not required electric power
1% The services companies
should be should
provided on their
The current services suffice. continue.
own responsibility.
75% 89%
4%

Source: Data from Inspection Vision Workshop of Nationwide Liaison Conference for Electrical Safety Inspection Associations

Customer comments
on the current inspection system
①As seen in the existing system, it is a good method for the current
inspection services to be provided evenly and continuously. (Customers
also entertain expectations for the system because it will help prevent
fire spreading from neighboring houses.)
②The current inspection system is better in order for us to live at ease on
aging
g g society.y
③ The current bill collection system whereby about 20 yen of inspection
charge is included in monthly electricity rate is better than other billing
method by which inspection charge is collected for each inspection
service.
④ The current inspection system and method are considered better,
because the relevant inspection service is required to be provided by a
reliable service provider such as an electric power company.

Source: Data from Inspection Vision Workshop

Progress of technological innovation and
basic policy for future inspection service
 The Electrical Safety Inspection Association has been striving
aggressively to provide attentive, conscientious and effective inspection
services which can meet the needs of its customers.
customers
 While at the same time, we at the Association think that IT (information-
technology) revolution and development of equipment technology, such
as solar photovoltaic technology,
technology to deal with environmental problems
will have a significant effect on the current inspection services and their
methods as well.
 For this reason, we, as one of the members of the electrical safety
inspection associations in Japan, also need to examine our basic policy
p
for the inspection services and the association’s work tasks into which
a new technology will be brought, while closely monitoring the changing
trends in development of such technology.