RESCO HOUSE: Disaster-resistant Concrete Housing by WPC Construction Method
Hinokiya Resco Co., Ltd.
| Publication date | December 27, 2022(Posted on March 9, 2023) |
|---|---|
| Sector | Natural Disasters / Health |
Company Overview
With our achievements as a pioneer in reinforced concrete housing, Hinokiya Resco Co., Ltd. will continue to leverage the strengths of the Hinokiya Group to provide our products and services. We will expand into the real estate solutions business to achieve further growth and development and increase our corporate value through high synergy effects. In addition, by manufacturing products within our own plant, which is the ideal environment for concrete, we will be able to produce and provide high-quality concrete at a lower cost.
Climate Change Impacts
As news of extreme weather events become more common around the world, Japan is also experiencing more damage from torrential rains, wind gusts, tornadoes, and other disasters. Typhoon No. 15 in 2019 recorded a maximum instantaneous wind speed of 57.5 m in Chiba City, Chiba Prefecture, and Typhoon No. 19 in the same year caused extensive damage, including landslides and flooding above and below floor level in many areas. The demand for houses in Japan is also changing due to the increasing severity of disasters caused by climate change and changing lifestyles.
Adaptation Initiatives
RESCO HOUSE is a product developed in collaboration with the former Construction Ministry as a "flame-resistant and quake-resistant modern home.” Conventional Japanese houses are mostly made of wood and have a short lifespan of about 30 years. They are also vulnerable to disasters such as fires and earthquakes, resulting in the loss of many lives and properties of a city. Therefore, this product was developed with the aim of creating an asset for the society as a whole and enriching people's lives by mass-producing "houses that do not burn or spread fires" and "houses that are resistant to natural disasters such as earthquakes and typhoons.”
By employing a construction method (WPC construction method) that assembles prefabricated concrete panels into a strongly integrated box frame, RESCO HOUSE has superior features than conventional wooden or steel-frame construction, and can provide a safer, more secure, and better living environment.
The weight of the concrete RESCO HOUSE, is approximately 2.5 times that of a wooden or lightweight steel-frame structure, making it highly resistant to large external forces caused by wind and flood damage. The swaying width of the structural frame is only 0.2 cm in a storm with an instantaneous maximum wind speed of 60 m/sec, while the swaying width for wooden/steel-frame houses is approximately 3 cm（Fig.1）. The width of the beam foundation is 220 mm, approximately 1.3 times wider than the width of steel-frame houses, making them stronger against external forces and preventing the house from collapsing in the occurrence of an earthquake or wind/water-related disasters（Fig.2）.
In addition, we offer "houses that can be used as evacuation shelters = disaster-resistant concrete houses", where the safest measure is to stay at home in case of emergency, such as when evacuating at home from the perspective of countermeasures against infectious diseases such as the new coronavirus or when electric lifelines are stopped due to disasters, etc. (Note).
Furthermore, to adapt to climate change and ensure health and comfort, the entire house is air-conditioned with Z Air Conditioning. The structural frame is guaranteed for 60 years under the "60-Year Warranty Program with Non-Anxiety". We provide sustainable houses that support their owners over the long term.
Effects / Expected Benefits
The WPC construction method has proven its strength in all kinds of disasters, including floods, typhoons, tornadoes, and landslides. Chiba Prefecture was severely damaged by Typhoons No. 15 and 19 in 2019, but no damage was confirmed to the 2,895 RESCO HOUSE buildings. The introduction of RESCO HOUSE will make it possible to realize a living environment that demonstrates strong resistance to large external forces caused by wind/water-related disasters.
（Note）To ensure lifelines, solar panels, storage batteries, and a 120-liter water storage tank must be installed separately.
