Overview of Hazardous
Materials Regulations

Materials created by the Fire and Disaster Management Agency were translated by the International Fire Service Information Center

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Overview of Hazardous Materials Regulations

Aims of hazardous materials regulations
Security regulations of materials (hazardous materials) with risks
that include combustibility and inflammability, which are likely tocause fires.

○ Prevention of fires○ Reduction of damage caused by disasters
including fires

To maintain peace and order
To promote social and public welfare(Article 1 of the Fire Services Act)2

Laws to Regulate Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials
High pressure gases(including combustible gases)

High Pressure
Gas Safety Act

Hazardous materials

Poisonoussubstancetoxic substanceRadioactive materials

Fire Services Act

Poisonous andDeleterious
Substances ControlAct

Atomic Energy
Basic Act(including combustible liquids)3

System of Hazardous Materials Regulations(Materials)(Use)(Quantity)(Regulation)

Designated quantity
or moreStorage and handling

Designatedcombustible
materials andothers

Storage and handling

Municipal
regulations

Less than the designatedquantity

FireServices Act

Hazardousmaterials

Transportation4

Classification of Hazardous Materials
Hazardous materials are listed in the Appended Table 1 of the Fire Services Act,and their properties are listed in the nature column of said table, according to thecategories specified in said table.
(Article 2-7 of the Fire Services Act)

Hazardous materials are classified into six categories inaccordance with their chemical and physical properties
Category I (Oxidizing solids)
Category II (Combustible solids)
Category III (Spontaneously combustible substances and water-reactive substances)
Category IV (Inflammable liquids)
Category V (Self-reactive substances)
Category VI (Oxidizing liquids)

5Designated Combustible Materials and Others
materials

After having caught fire,○ lead to the fire quickly
spreading○ make it extremely difficult tocarry out fire extinguishingactivities→The specific items have been
designated at Appended Table 4 of Article
1 (12) of the Cabinet Order.

Items similar todesignated combustible
materials

Designated combustible

Hazardous
materials lessthan thedesignatedquantity(which are notregulated as facilitiesof hazardous
materials)(Article 9 - 4 of the Fire Services Act)

Controlled by municipal regulations (including fire prevention ordinance)○Technical standards covering storage and handling○Technical standards covering the location, structure and equipment of facilities
where designated combustible materials and others are stored or handled, andothers

6Details of Regulations

For storage and handling of hazardous materials of the designated quantity or more,(1) Hardware regulations that cover technical standards for the location, structure andequipment at facilities(2) Software regulations that cover storage methods of hazardous materials(3) Safety systems from three perspectives including improving the knowledge and skill of
those who handle hazardous materials, hazardous materials have been regulated in a rational
way in order to safely provide them to the people of Japan.
○Manufacturing facilities○Storage facilities(including petroleum refining plants) (including petroleum tanks)○Handling facilities(including gas stations)

Obligation to conform to the standards(1) Criteria for hardware○Location
Safe distance, owned empty land
○Structure
Building material, tank material○Facilities
Fire fighting equipment, ventilationequipment, and lightning protection
devices(2) Criteria for software○Restriction on uses of fire
○Entry restriction○Prevention of leaking, overflowing,
and scattering of hazardous materials(3) Safety system○Hazardous material engineers○Hazardous material supervisors○Hazardous material managers○Hazardous material security
personnel○Private fire brigades○Preventive rules○Regular inspections
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