Meeting on Structural Design Standards for Wooden School Buildings
Overview
At the meeting held on September 10, 2025, participants discussed the draft report, draft perspective renderings, and draft future schedule. The report’s wording of “efficiency” will be revised so that its significance is conveyed concretely to school authorities, designers, timber producers and processors, and contractors. The perspective renderings will be revised and adjusted to reflect movable desks, structural walls, windows, high-side lights, and eaves. The draft JIS revision is planned to be prepared over eight months beginning in January, following a preparatory meeting. The formula for calculating the required area will not be changed at this time, even if classes have 35 students. The report is scheduled for publication in early October after final adjustments.
Key points
- The draft report will be revised so that the meaning of “efficiency” is made concrete for each stakeholder group.
- The draft perspective renderings will be revised and adjusted to reflect movable desks, structural walls, openings, high-side lights, and eaves.
- The draft JIS revision is planned to be prepared over eight months beginning in January.
- The report is scheduled to be published on the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology website in early October after final adjustments.
Overview
On September 10, 2025, the meeting was held at the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology, and participants discussed the draft report, draft perspective renderings, and draft future schedule.
Regarding the draft report, participants confirmed a direction to revise the descriptions so that the procurement and stockpiling of materials based on wooden-building JIS standards, the use of generally distributed timber, and specific efficiency improvements in design, processing, and construction are clearly conveyed.
Impact
Committee members stated that using locally produced timber would contribute to revitalizing the local timber industry, conserving local forests, and revitalizing the local economy and industries through wood.
Details
For the draft perspective renderings, participants considered showing the possibility of using structural walls for displays, whiteboards, and storage; wording that makes clear the building is a separate structure; consistency in window shapes; window size; the depiction of high-side lights; and the lines of the eaves. The secretariat said it would make revisions and adjustments.
The draft JIS revision is planned to be prepared on the premise that the Japan Architectural Institute will be commissioned, with preparatory meetings held in November and December and drafting beginning in January. A working group is expected to prepare the draft, which will then be reviewed by a committee joined by producers, users, and neutral members.
Regarding classes of 35 students, the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology explained that the formula for calculating the required area would not be changed at this time, given that desk JIS standards and teaching materials such as tablets have become larger. Classroom area was treated as a separate issue.