Building Codes

Academic unit or major

Undergraduate major in Architecture and Building Engineering

Instructor(s)

Naoko Saio /

Class Format

Lecture (Face-to-face)

Media-enhanced courses

-

Day of week/Period
(Classrooms)

3-4 Wed

Class

-

Course Code

ARC.A204

Number of credits

100

Course offered

2025

Offered quarter

2Q

Syllabus updated

Apr 3, 2025

Language

Japanese

Syllabus

Course overview and goals

This course will cover the Building Standards Act, the City Planning Act, the Act on Architects and Building Engineers, and others as building codes. Focusing on the Building Standards Act, the instructor will explain regulations for the group such as land use zones, floor area ratio, building coverage ratio, and building height restriction, as well as regulations for individual buildings such as fire prevention and evacuation. The instructor will also touch on current topics concerning building codes as application.
When constructing buildings, plans must conform to building codes. Accordingly, the knowledge acquired in this course will become the basis for the students' building design and research or building activities in the real world. The aim of this course is for students to acquire such knowledge as a tool in facing real-world building and cities: what is the minimum width needed for a hallway, and what is the maximum height of a building which can be constructed in this area?

Course description and aims

By the end of this course, students will be able to:
1) Explain the meaning of terms and regulations of building codes.
2) Understand the thinking behind building codes and do their own research.
3) Use the thinking behind building codes in their design, research, or other applications.

Student learning outcomes

実務経験と講義内容との関連 (又は実践的教育内容)

Lectures on building-related regulations are given by practitioners from the Building Control and Inspection Agency, based on the basic principles of the laws and regulations, their correspondence with reality and the latest situation.

Keywords

building regulations, building standard law, building confirmation, registered architects

Competencies

• Specialist skills
• Intercultural skills
• Communication skills
• Critical thinking skills
• Practical and/or problem-solving skills

Class flow

In each class, the first half will be an explanation of some building codes. The second half will be exercises or other activities related to the material covered that day.

Course schedule/Objectives

Study advice (preparation and review)

To enhance effective learning, students are encouraged to spend approximately 100 minutes preparing for class and another 100 minutes reviewing class content afterwards (including assignments) for each class.
They should do so by referring to textbooks and other course material.

Textbook(s)

Building Codes: learning through 14 chapters , Japan ERI, GIHODO SHUPPAN
https://gihodobooks.sslserve.jp/book/2623-4.html

Reference books, course materials, etc.

None

Evaluation methods and criteria

Students' knowledge of building regulations will be assessed.
The quality of the task(60%),exercises and essay(40%)

Related courses

• ARC.A201 ： Architectural Design and Drawing I
• ARC.A202 ： Architectural Design and Drawing II
• ARC.A301 ： Architectural Design and Drawing III
• ARC.A304 ： Architectural Design and Drawing IV

Prerequisites

None

Other

Mandatory course for 1st-class Kenchikushi (registered architect)