An Analysis of Importance-Influencing Factors in the Efficient Operation of Regional Building Safety Centers

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to analyze the operational status of Regional Building Safety Centers and evaluate the factors affecting the importance and efficiency of their major tasks. Despite the nationwide establishment of Regional Building Safety Centers following the 2017 amendment to the Building Act, operational levels vary significantly among local governments. This paper aims to provide foundational data to establish an effective operating system. Method: The study first defined the scope of work by analyzing legal grounds and comparing them with Japan’s Building Confirmation System. Next, the status of professional staffing and major tasks in mandatory local governments was investigated to derive operational indicators. A survey was then conducted with public officials and experts (architects and professional engineers) to analyze the importance of and perceptual differences regarding these indicators. Result: First, a gap between legal duties and actual performance was identified, with large deviations in technical tasks such as licensing reviews. Second, securing professional manpower was found to be a key constraint, with significant differences in hiring feasibility perception based on job type and region size. Third, while scope, system, and manpower influence operations, the study concludes that operations are more affected by local conditions and manpower supply than by institutional uniformity.