“Actually, that partition wall is very sturdy. A physically weak woman might not be able to break it even by ramming her body into it,” says Tsuchiya. “Can’t Hear the Alarm”—A Deadly Blind Spot in Disaster Preparedness Especially in Large Tower Condominiums By the way, regarding fire alarms, many residents don’t actually know what kind of sound will go off when a fire occurs. “Under the Fire Service Act, fire equipment inspections must be conducted twice a year in condominiums. If the alarm sounds during inspections, residents will know what sound to expect in an actual fire. However, in a large condominium with about 500 units, checking the alarm equipment can take four to five days. During that period, if the alarm were to sound continuously, it would interfere with daily life. Because of this, more buildings are using a system where testers are inserted into the intercom units by each apartment’s entrance to check for malfunctions. As a result, there are more cases where residents don’t know what sound the alarm will make in an actual fire.” That’s frightening. Also, while condominiums with more than 50 residents are required to conduct fire drills about once a year, “the larger the building, the more likely these drills are to be done half-heartedly.” Tsuchiya suggests that some residents may not even know where the special evacuation staircases are. “People probably feel safe because condominiums are fire-resistant. But a fire can happen at any time, and when it does, you can’t just stay put.” Evacuation ladders come in various types: some drop automatically when the hatch is opened, and others require removing a safety pin to lower the ladder. It’s important to actually see how the ladder works in your own building. “During evacuation drills, consult with the management company or fire department to have a training partition wall prepared so you can experience how sturdy it is. I sometimes see drills done in a half-leisure, casual way, but if you don’t take them seriously, they won’t be useful in an actual emergency.” Tsuchiya Teruyuki – Sakura Office, Condominium Management Consultant. Has extensive experience in real estate sales and operations consulting, as well as management consulting for condominium associations. Holds numerous qualifications related to real estate and construction, and is recognized as a specialist in real estate sales and condominium management for his consulting backed by deep knowledge and experience.