This translation is provisional translation for reference, formally refer to the original text.

Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 3 of 1965
Ministerial order to provide technical standards for metal evacuation ladder
In accordance with the provision of Article 21-2(2) of the Fire Service Act (Act No. 186 of 1948),
the ministerial order to revise all the order to provide technical standards for metal evacuation laddershall consist of the following parts.
PurportArticle 1 This ministerial order covers the technical specifications applicable to metal evacuation
ladder (hereinafter referred to as “the evacuation ladder”).
Definitions
Article 2 In this ministerial order, the meanings of the terms listed in the following items shall be
as prescribed in the respective items.
(i) Evacuation ladder
Evacuation ladder refers to fixed ladder, propped up ladder, and hanging ladder.
(ii) Fixed ladder
Fixed ladder refers to a ladder that is fixed to the target fire prevention structure in usablecondition at all times (including the stow-away type, where ladders are stowed away withinvertical bars, which can be put into use as the ladders are being pulled out, hereinafter thesame) and the type where its lower parts can be folded up or expanded and contracted.
(iii) Propped up ladder
Propped up ladder refers to a ladder that is used by making it lean against the target fire
prevention structure.
(iv) Hanging ladder
Hanging ladder refers to a ladder that is used by making it hang from the target fire
prevention structure.
(v) Hanging ladder for hatches
Of hanging ladders, hanging ladder for hatches refers to a ladder that is stowed (limited toladders whose projected parts do not touch the target fire prevention structure when in use) inthe evacuation equipment hatch (this refers to a hatch-type fixture that is able to stow a metal
evacuation ladder under the usable condition at all times).
Structure
Article 3 The evacuation ladder must have a structure that is able to be used safely, securely, andeasily.
(2) The evacuation ladder shall consist of vertical bars (for hanging ladders, the equivalent ofvertical bars, such as wire ropes, chains, and other types of metal bars and plates; hereinafterthe same) and ladders.

(3) Of evacuation ladders, ones with a single vertical bar shall meet the requirements in each of
the following items:(i) The rung shall be installed to the vertical bar at the central axis of the ladder, and the tips ofthe rung shall have anti-sideslip projections that are more than 5 centimeters long, parallel tothe axis of the vertical bar.
(ii) The inner measurement length of ladders from the vertical bar to the rung tip shall be morethan 15 centimeters and less than 25 centimeters; the width of the vertical bar shall be lessthan 10 centimeters along the axis direction of the rungs.
(4) Of evacuation ladders, the inner measurement interval between vertical bars for ones withmore than two vertical bars shall be more than 30 centimeters and less than 50 centimeters.
(5) The rungs of the evacuation ladder shall have a circle-shaped cross section of more than 14
millimeters in diameter and less than 35 millimeters in diameter, or the equivalent grip
thickness of other shapes.
(6) The rungs of the evacuation ladder shall be attached to the vertical bar in the equal interval,
and the interval shall be more than 25 centimeters and less than 35 centimeters.
(7) The step surface of the rungs in the evacuation ladder shall have anti-slip features.
Article 4 In addition to the stipulations in the previous article, the stow-type of fixed ladders or theladders with a structure where their lower parts can be folded up or expanded and contracted, shallmeet the requirements in each of the following items:(i) The ladder shall have a protective device to prevent the clasp from easily coming off due tovibration and other impacts.
(ii) The ladder shall become ready to use with two or less steps, except for the steps written prior
to the protective device as stipulated in the previous item.
Article 5 In addition to the stipulations in Article 3, the propped up ladder shall meet therequirements in each of the following items:(i) A safety device to prevent slipping and fall shall be installed at the upper support point (arandom location within 60 centimeters from the top).
(ii) The lower support point shall have anti-slip features.
(iii) With regards to the ladder with expandable and contractible structure, an automatic
contraction prevention device that deploys when in use shall be built in.
(iv) With regards to the ladder with foldable structure, an automatic folding prevention device thatdeploys when in use shall be built in.
Article 6 In addition to the stipulations in Article 3, the hanging ladder shall meet the requirementsin each of the following items:(i) The ladder shall have effective projections to keep the ladder in use from the target structureof fire prevention by more than 10 centimeters of distance at each rung location. However,this stipulation does not apply to the products that are able to keep the ladder in use from thetarget structure of fire prevention by more than 10 centimeters of distance without projections.
(ii) The tip of the vertical bar shall be attached with a round jumpring, hook, and other hanging
metal fittings.

(iii) Hanging metal fittings shall have the structure where the fittings do not come off easily.
Materials
Article 7 The materials used in the evacuation ladder, that are listed in each of the items in theupper columns in the chart below shall have the same or above strength and durability to theproducts listed in the lower columns, and for the evacuation ladder that is made of materials withoutanti-corrosion feature, additional anti-corrosion treatment shall be applied.
(i) Materials used in fixed ladder and propped up ladderPart name

Material

Vertical bar
Rung
Reinforcement material
Support material

JIS (refers to the Japanese industrial standards, as stipulated in Item 1,
Article 17 of the Industrial Standardization Act, Law No. 185 of 1949,
hereinafter the same)
JIS G 3101 Rolled steel for general structure
JIS G 3444 Carbon steel tubes for general structure
JIS H 4100 Aluminium and aluminium alloy extruded profiles

Ladder contraction
prevention device
Folding prevention device

JIS G 3104 Steel bars for rivets
JIS G 3201 Carbon steel forgings for general use
JIS G 5705 Malleable iron castings

Hook

JIS G 3101 Rolled steel for general structure

PulleyJIS G 5101 Carbon steel castings
JIS H 5120 Copper and copper alloy castings

Bolts

JIS G 3123 Cold finished carbon and alloy steel barsPins

JIS G 3104 Steel bars for rivets
JIS H 4040 Aluminium and aluminium alloy bars and wires(ii) Materials used in hanging ladderPart name

Material

Vertical bar
Projections

JIS F 3303 Flash butt welded anchor chain
JIS G 3101 Rolled steel for general structure
JIS G 3535 Wire ropes for aircraft control
JIS H 4000 Aluminium and aluminium alloy sheets, strips and plates

Rungs

JIS G 3101 Rolled steel for general structure
JIS G 3123 Cold finished carbon and alloy steel bars
JIS G 3141 Cold-reduced carbon steel sheet and strip
JIS G 3444 Carbon steel tubes for general structure
JIS H 4000 Aluminium and aluminium alloy sheets, strips and plates

Hanging metal fittings

JIS G 3101 Rolled steels for general structure

Bolts

JIS G 3123 Cold finished carbon and alloy steel barsPins

JIS G 3104 Steel bars for rivets
JIS H 4040 Aluminium and aluminium alloy bars and wires

Strength test
Article 8 The vertical bar and rungs of the evacuation ladder shall not have permanent strain in thedirection of the vertical bar in the tests where static load is imposed, as in the chart below.
Part name

Static load

Vertical bar

For the part covering from the uppermost rung to the lowest rung, for each 2 meters or
its fraction, compressive load of 500 newtons for one vertical bar (for the ladder thatuses wire rope or chain for the vertical bar, 750 newtons; for the ladder that has morethan three vertical bars, one of the inner vertical bars in the inner part, and for theladder with a single vertical bar, for that vertical bar, 1,000 newtons each), and for the
fixed ladder with foldable lower structure or expandable and contractible lower
structure, as well as the hanging ladder, tensile load.

Rung

For each rung, 1,000 newtons of uniformly distributed load on the central 7-centimeter
part(2) The vertical bar and the rung of the evacuation ladder shall not have cracks and breaking,among other damages, in the test to impose static load which is twice as stipulated in the chartin the previous paragraph toward the direction of the vertical bar.
(3) Of fixed ladders, the stow-away type shall not have permanent strain, cracks and breaking,among other damages, in the test to impose static load of 220 newtons toward the right-angle
directions of the vertical bar and the rung under the condition where the vertical bar is fixed,
and rungs are horizontally pulled out, on the upper end, the central part, and the lowest end of
the vertical bar.
(4) The propped up ladder shall not have permanent strain, cracks and breaking, among otherdamages, in the test to impose static load of 650 newtons in the vertical direction each on thelocations in a 2-meter interval on the left, the center, and the right, while the ladder is placed
horizontally, with both of its ends supported by appropriate stands.
(5) The hanging ladder for hatch shall meet the requirements in each of the following tests:(i) The vertical bar and the rung of the hanging ladder for hatch shall not have permanent strain
in the direction of the vertical bar in the test to impose static load as stipulated in paragraph 1,with the test equipment as shown in the figure.
(ii) The vertical bar and the rung of the hanging ladder for hatch shall not have cracks andbreaking, among other damages, in the test to impose twice the static load as stipulated in theprevious item.
(6) The attachment locations of the vertical bar and the rung shall not have permanent strain,
cracks and breaking, among other damages, in the tests as stipulated in each of the previousitems.
Repeat test, etc.
Article 9 The evacuation ladder shall not have significant deformation, cracks, or breaking in thetest to repeat 100 times of deployment and stowing.
(2) The metal fittings for the hanging ladder, for each one, shall not have significant deformation,
cracks, or breaking when for each 2 meters or its fraction, tensile load of 1,500 newtons isimposed toward the direction of the vertical bar for the part from the uppermost rung to thelowest rung.
(3) The projections in the hanging ladder attached to a single horizontal ladder, shall not havesignificant deformation, cracks, or breaking in the test to compressive load of 150 newtons
toward the right-angle directions of the vertical bar and the rung.
(4) The rung of the evacuation ladder shall not spin or have significant deformation, cracks, orbreaking in the test to use 23 newton meters of torque.
(5) The horizontal distance from the upper rung attachment part to the lower rung attachment partin the hanging ladder for hatch shall be less than 0.4 meters in the test to impose a static loadof 1,000 newtons from the load imposition location, when using the test equipment in thefigure.
Corrosion test
Article 10 The evacuation ladder shall not have corrosions that could fail the ladder in its function
or structure, after sprayed with salt water for 8 hours with the test method as stipulated in JIS Z 2371
(salt water spray test method), to be left unattended for 16 hours, for a single cycle, to be repeatedfor 5 times, washed with cold water, and then natural dried for 24 hours.
Display
Article 11 The evacuation ladder shall have a display of items in each of the following items at aneasily seen place in the way the display items do not easily become erased.
(i) Model(ii) Type(iii) Name of the manufacturer or trade mark(iv) Manufacturing date(v) Serial number(vi) Length(vii) Deadweight for propped up ladder or hanging ladder(viii) Model number(ix) Characters that state “for the hatch” for the hanging ladder for hatch
Exceptions to the standards
Article 12 With regards to evacuation ladders that are developed with new technology, in the case
the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications decides that the said evacuation ladders meetthe requirements in this ministerial order, based on the form, the structure, the materials, and theperformance, the said evacuation ladders shall be deemed to have met the technical standards set
forth by the Minister of Internal Affairs and Communications, regardless of the stipulations in thisministerial order.
Supplementary ProvisionThis ministerial order shall come into effect as of June 1, 1965.
Supplementary Provisions

Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 11, dated July 28, 1975
(1) This ministerial order shall come into effect on the day of promulgation.
(2) Test for the metal evacuation ladder for which the application for the firefighting machines
and equipment test, implemented by Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Corporation or anentity, was actually submitted at the time of enforcement of this ministerial order shall follow
the stipulations in the previous regulations.
(3) The model certification for the metal evacuation ladder that was actually received at the timeof enforcement of this ministerial order and the model certification for the metal evacuation
ladder that was received as the result of passing the test in accordance with the stipulations in
the previous regulations, in compliance with the stipulations in the previous paragraph shallremain effective only until March 31, 1977.
Supplementary Provisions
Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 7, dated March 18, 1987
This ministerial order shall come into effect on the day of promulgation.
Supplementary Provisions
Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 27, dated April 24, 1997
Effective dateThis ministerial order shall take effect on May 1, 1997. However, the stipulations in the revisions inParagraph 1 and 3, Article 8, as well as Paragraph 2, Paragraph 3, and Paragraph 4, Article 9 shall beeffective on October 1, 1999.
Transitional measure(2) Test for the metal evacuation ladder for which the application for the covered machines andequipment test, implemented by Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Corporation, was actuallysubmitted as of May 1, 1997, shall follow the stipulations in the previous regulations without
regards to the stipulations in Item 2, Article 2, Article 3, Article 4, and Item 3, Article 5, andItem 4, Article 5, of the post-revision ministerial order to provide technical standards formetal evacuation ladder (hereinafter referred to as “the new ministerial order”).
(3) The model certification for the metal evacuation ladder that was actually received as of May 1,
1997, and the model certification for the metal evacuation ladder that was received as theresult of passing the test in accordance with the stipulations in the previous regulations, incompliance with the stipulations in the previous paragraph, shall be deemed to have received
the model certification in the new ministerial order.
(4) Test for the metal evacuation ladder for which the application for the covered machines andequipment test, implemented by Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Corporation, was actuallysubmitted as of October 1, 1999, shall follow the stipulations in the previous regulations
without regards to the stipulations in Item 1, Article 8, Item 3, Article 8, Item 2, Article 9,Item 3, Article 9, and Item 4, Article 9, of the new ministerial order.
(5) The model certification for the metal evacuation ladder that was actually received as ofOctober 1, 1999, and the model certification for the metal evacuation ladder that was received

as the result of passing the test in accordance with the stipulations in the previous regulations,in compliance with the stipulations in the previous paragraph, shall be deemed to havereceived the model certification in the new ministerial order.
Supplementary Provision
Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 44, dated September 14, 2000
This ministerial order shall take effect on the effective date (January 6, 2001) for the Law to partiallyrevise the Cabinet Act (Law No. 88 of 1999).
Supplementary Provision
Ordinance of the Ministry of Home Affairs No. 26, dated March 9, 2006
(1) This ministerial order shall come into effect as of October 1, 2006.
(2) Test for the metal evacuation ladder for which the application for the covered machines andequipment test, implemented by Japan Fire Equipment Inspection Corporation, was actuallysubmitted at the time of enforcement of this ministerial order, shall follow the stipulations in
the previous regulations.
(3) The model certification for the metal evacuation ladder that was actually received at the timeof enforcement of this ministerial order, and the model certification for the metal evacuation
ladder that was received as the result of passing the test in accordance with the stipulations in
the previous regulations, in compliance with the stipulations in the previous paragraph, shallbe deemed to have received the model certification in the ministerial order that provides thepost-revision technical standards for metal evacuation ladder.

Test equipment (concerning Article 8 and Article 9)

Unit: meter

Vertical bar
Attachment part forupper rungRung

13 degrees

Location for load attachment

LoadAbout 1.3

Enlargement figure for theattachment part for upper rungAttachment part for lower rung