EXAMINATION ACTIVITIES , ISSUANCE OF LICENSE CARDS
EXAMINATION ACTIVITIES
Summary of Examination Activities
Convening of Testing Committees
Meetings of the Hazardous Materials Engineers Test Committee and Fire Defense Equipment Officers Test Committee are respectively convened as required.
At these meetings, such topics as the compilation of examination questions are deliberated by committee members whom are appointed by the President.
Creation of Standard Examination Forms
Examination forms are all created at the Center Headquarters for distribution to its prefectural branches. As a result, examination is administered by using identical examination questions throughout Japan.
Determination of Examination Schedules
The annual examination schedule is determined by each prefectural branch at the start of the year, after which Headquarters determines the overall schedule.
Administering and Scoring Tests
In prefectures besides Tokyo, tests are given several times a year at classrooms of universities, high schools, and other educational facilities. In Tokyo, one of the two types of examinations are given nearly every week at the Central Testing Center which functions as the regular examination site.
The answer cards of examinations administered by prefectural branches are sent to Headquarters which conducts uniform computerized scoring of all the cards and then notifies the branches of the test results.
Announcement of Examination Results
The prefectural branches publicly announce the names of successful applicants about three weeks after a hazardous materials officers examination and about four weeks after a fire defense equipment officers examination. In addition the Central Testing Center publicly announces the names of successful applicants on either the same day as a hazardous materials officers examination or about 10 days after a fire defense equipment officers examination.
ISSUANCE OF LICENSE CARDS
Overview of License Card Issuance
Since April of 1988, hazardous materials engineer's licenses and fire defense equipment officer's licenses have been issued by the Center under commission from prefectural governors. Because of the shift to a license card system due to legal reform enacted in April 1989, a computerized processing system has been adopted to simplify and rationalize licensing activities.
Licensing work includes the tasks of the "issue of a new card" to successful examination applicants; "revision of legal domicile, etc." after a change in the legal domicile(except when within the same prefecture) or name of a licensed officer(in Tokyo, note that this task is handled by the Fire Department); "photograph renewal" of licensed officer's cards after every 10 years; and "card re-issue" if a card is lost, destroyed, or damaged.
Note that the following types of licenses exist
Hazardous Materials Engineer's Licenses
The classes of licenses cards and hazardous materials that can be handled for each license are specified below.
| Class of License | Item | |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | All sorts of hazardous materials | |
| Class B | Group 1 | Oxidizing solids, chlorates, perchlorates inorganic peroxides, hypochlories |
| Group 2 | Combustible solids, phosphorus sulfide, red phosphorus, sulphur iron powders, metal powders, magnesium | |
| Group 3 | Spontaneously combustible materials and water-prohibitive materials, potassium, sodium, alkyl aluminum, yellow phosphorus | |
| Group 4 | Flammable liquids, gasoline, alcohols, kerosene, light oil, heavy oil, animal fats and vegetable oils | |
| Group 5 | Self-reactive materials, organic peroxides, ester nitrates, nitro compounds | |
| Group 6 | Oxidizing liquids, perchloric acid, hydrogen peroxide, nitric acid | |
| Class C | Gasoline, kerosene, light oil, etc. | |
Fire Defense Equipment Officers Licenses
The classes of licenses and fire defense equipments that can be installed or maintained for each license are specified below.
| License Class | Fire defense equipment | |
|---|---|---|
| Class A | Special group | Special fire defense equipment |
| Class A or B |
Group 1 | Wall hydrant systems, sprinkler systems, water spray extinguishing systems, and outdoor fire hydrant |
| Group 2 | Form extinguishing systems | |
| Group 3 | Carbon dioxide extinguishing systems halogenated hydrocarbon fire extinguishing systems, dry chemical extinguishing systems | |
| Group 4 | Automatic fire alarm systems, gas leakege fire alarm systems, fire alarm systems for notifying fire brigade | |
| Group 5 | Metallic escape ladders, life chutes, automatic descending lifelines | |
| Class B | Group 6 | Fire extinguishers |
| Group 7 | Electric leakage alarm devices | |
Definition of a Hazardous Materials Engineer
Facilities where a Hazardous Materials Engineer must be posted
A hazardous materials engineer must be posted without fail at facilities where over a given quantity of hazardous materials are stored and handled, such as chemical plants, gas stations, petroleum storage tanks, tank trucks, and so on.
Duties of Hazardous Materials Engineer
Class A hazardous materials Engineer may handle, conduct periodic inspections, and conduct safety supervision of all hazardous materials, whereas Class B hazardous materials officer may perform the same for designated hazardous materials.
Moreover, in the presence of such qualified engineer, non qualified persons may handle or conduct periodic inspections of hazardous materials.
Class C hazardous materials engineer may handle and conduct periodic inspections of specific hazardous materials(such as gasoline, kerosene, and heavy oil).
Qualifications for taking the Hazardous Materials Engineers examination
- Class A :
- Graduates that majored in chemistry or completed a chemistry related program at a university, junior college, or vocational high school or persons recognized to possess equal or higher scholastic ability thereto.
- Class B hazardous materials engineers with at least two years of experience in handling hazardous materials.
- Class B and C:
Can be taken by anyone.
Definition of a Fire Defense Equipment Officer
Installation of Fire Defense Equipment
Depending on the use, scale, and human capacity of theaters, department stores, hotels and similar buildings, it is legally required to install fire defense equipment such as indoor fire hydrants, sprinkler systems, and automatic fire alarm systems.
Duties of a Fire Defense Equipment Officer
The class A officer can install, maintain, and inspect fire defense equipment, whereas the class B officer can maintain and inspect fire defense equipment.
Qualifications for taking The Fire Defense Equipment Officers examination
- Class A:
- Graduates that majored in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, industrial chemistry, civil engineering, or architecture at a university, junior college, or vocational school, high school.
- Class B fire defense equipment officer with at least two years of experience in maintaining fire defense equipment.
- Persons recognized to possess scholastic ability or experience equal to or higher than the preceding Items 1 or 2.
- Class B:
Can be taken by anyone.