Outline of JBMA Business

●Building Cleaning Technician Examinations
●Registration of Businesses and Minister of Health,
　Labour and Welfare Designations
●The Building Facilities Administrative Examination
●Building Maintenance Inspector System
●Health-related Service Mark
●Business Related to Laws and the Government
●Interactions
●Surveys and Research Studies
●Building Maintenance Network Construction
●BM Information Land
●Public Relations & Publications
●Education and Training

Building Cleaning Technician Examinations

　In May 1982, building cleaning was newly added as a line of work for technical skill tests under the Vocational Training Law (now the Human Resources Development Promotion Law). It was decided that a "Building Cleaning Technician Examination" would be conducted by the government.
　At that time, the (then) Ministry of Labour decided for the first time to entrust the conduct of technical skill tests to a private entity. JBMA was the first organization designated, and it has been conducting the Building Cleaning Technician Examinations ever since.
　Held every year by JBMA 's nine regional headquarters, they involve both a practical skills test from December to February and a written test in February. As of 2008, 43,748 people had passed the examination nationwide and become qualified as building cleaning technicians.
　The "Building cleaning technician" qualification is part of the registration requirements for becoming a "Cleaning business supervisor," which is a required condition for Registration #1 (Performing cleaning in buildings) and Registration #8 (Performing general sanitation management in buildings) under the Building Sanitation Law.
　In 2004, the number of years of practical experience required in order to take the examination was reduced from five to three.

Registration of Businesses and Minister of Health,
Labour and Welfare Designations

　In the Building Sanitation Law (enacted in 1970), the "registration of business system" (enacted in 1980, revised in 2001) is stipulated to improve the quality of companies dealing with building sanitation control.
　Three conditions have to be satisfied to acquire registration:
1. Human standards (providing in-service training for supervisors and workers, etc.)
2. Physical standards (machinery and appliances, etc., as set forth by the law)
3. Other standards (accuracy management of machinery and appliances, means of work implementation and organizations, etc.)
　JBMA is designated by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to guide and train registered companies and carry out the following services:
1. Establishment of technical standards necessary for proper performance of the work of registered companies
2. Guidance of work upon request of registered companies
3. Training for knowledge and skills necessary for work for persons engaged in the work of registered companies
4. Establishment of facilities for social welfare of persons engaged in the work of registered companies
　The registered business services are classified into eight categories (expanded from six in 2001). JBMA is designated for all four that are designed for conduct by incorporated associations:
#1 Performing cleaning in buildings
#5 Performing cleaning of potable water tanks in buildings
#7 Performing control of rodents and insect pests
#8Performing general management of sanitation in buildings
(Former #6, valid till March 31, 2008, transitional measure: Performing general management of sanitation in buildings)

　In addition, as the body that conducts the in-service training of persons engaged in the work that is part of "human standards," JBMA is entrusted by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare to register persons engaged in the work of cleaning, duct cleaning, potable water tank cleaning, drainpipe cleaning, and rodent and insect pest control for training.

The Building Facilities Administrative Examination

　In 1991, "technical tests" were introduced for building facilities administration by the (then) Ministry of Labour and they have been carried out ever since. In January 1996, however, the enforcement ordinance of the Human Resources Development Promotion Law was partly amended; building facilities administration was listed as the 133rd type of business for technical skill tests and included in the National Examination in 1996.
　"Building facilities administrative engineers" for building maintenance have to deal with any type of facility installed in buildings. This means that they need multidisciplinary knowledge and skills. The Building Facilities Administrative Examination is designed to evaluate those skills.
　For both 1st and 2nd Classes, the examination involves a written test and a practical skills test. JBMA has been conducting the examination since 2004, when it was designated as the test organ by the Minister of Health, Labour and Welfare.
　As of 2008, 129 1st Class applicants and 476 2nd Class applicants had succeeded in becoming "Building facilities administrative engineers."
　The "Building facilities administrative engineer" qualification is one of the requirements needed to become an "Air conditioning, water supply and drainage system maintenance supervisor," which is a registration requirement for #8 (Performing general sanitation management in buildings) under the Building Sanitation Law.

Building Maintenance Inspector System

　The Building Maintenance Inspector System (Quality inspector system) was initiated in 2001 by JBMA. It has two purposes: to improve the quality control system of building maintenance companies by fostering qualified technical personnel who can evaluate work results in the building maintenance and management business and improve the business management system; and to contribute to the securing of an optimal environment and maintenance of buildings by providing business service users and actual users of the building facilities with excellent quality.
　The system aims at upgrading the quality evaluation capacity of inspectors: from evaluation of work results to evaluation of the business management system and management control system, and from evaluation of individual elements of the business to evaluation of the overall business.
　JBMA is in the process of training specialists capable of evaluating and improving the cleaning management business-which forms a major share of the overall business-and "Building cleaning management inspectors, 2nd class (Work quality)." As of April 2009, 2,335 persons had qualified. The system was partly amended in 2006, and a registration system for those who have satisfied the requirements is now available. JBMA certifies qualified persons who have registered as being able to conduct inspections and officially acknowledges inspections made by them.
　JBMA is now planning to start training qualified persons to become "Building cleaning management inspectors, 2nd Class (Organization quality) system," "Building cleaning management inspectors, 1st Class," and "Building facilities administration inspectors."

Health-related Service Mark

　All companies entrusted with cleaning services have to meet the standards regarding hospital cleaning established by the amended Medical Care Law of 1992.
　Business related to the health-related "service mark" system is conducted by Iryo Kanren Service Shinkoukai (Health Services Promotion Foundation). It sets standards according to those required for health-related service businesses under the Medical Care Law, and issues the service mark to applicant companies that satisfy those standards.
　The system covers nine services: 1. Maintenance checks on oxygen supply units for domiciliary oxygen therapy; 2. Sterilization services; 3. Bedding laundry services; 4. Patient catering services; 5. Patient transport services; 6. Hospital cleaning services; 7. Clinical laboratory services; 8. Maintenance checks on gas distribution facilities for medical services; 9. Maintenance checks on medical equipment.
　Regarding #6 (Hospital cleaning services), JBMA is entrusted by the Health Services Promotion Foundation to certify companies by issuing the service mark. JBMA deals with applications three times a year and the assessment dates are one day each in February, June and October.
　#6 (Hospital cleaning services) was launched in 1994, and up to the June 2009 assessment day, 1,340 companies had been certified and issued with the service mark.
　JBMA holds a seminar for managers entrusted with hospital cleaning once a year in the nine regions nationwide. Attendance is one of the standards required for certification.

Business Related to Laws and the Government

　MHLW is the main supervisory authority for JBMA. The Building Sanitation Law, which is controlled by the Ministry, is the law most closely connected with the industry. Because of the extensive scope of the business services covered by the building maintenance industry, JBMA has to deal with a large number of matters related to laws and the government.

【Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare】
　Building Sanitation Law
　Waterworks Law
　Purification Tank Law
　Waste Management Law
　Medical Care Law
　Business connected with the Building Sanitation Law and the Medical Care Law has already been mentioned. In addition, the industry is deeply influenced by the Waterworks Law, which regulates the waterworks inside buildings (small scale private water supply, etc.). The management of water-purification tanks and industrial waste is also controlled by the law.

【Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare】
　Labor Standards Law
　Occupational Health and Safety Law
　Worker Dispatch Law
　Human Resources Development Promotion Law
　The industry is very labor-intensive-involving 900,000 employed workers-so it is strongly connected to all laws related to work conditions, work safety, and vocational training. This connection is an important part of JBMA's business. The operation and management of boilers is also under the control of MHLW.

【The National Police Agency】
　Security Service Law
　Security services must be authorized, and if there are grounds for disqualification, they are disallowed. JBMA works in close contact with the National Police Agency regarding legal affairs, such as the education of security personnel, and cooperates with the All Japan Security Service Association.

【Fire and Disaster Management Agency】
　Fire Defense Law
　Disaster prevention is an important part of integrated building maintenance. It includes the maintenance and management of fire protection equipment and hazardous materials. JBMA works in close contact with the Fire and Disaster Management Agency.

【Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry】
　Electrical Engineer Law
　Electricity Enterprises Law
　High Pressure Gas Control Law
　Energy Conservation Law
　The operation management business, which includes electrical equipment and refrigerating machines, requires legal qualifications. The promotion of energy conservation in buildings is also a major theme today in order to protect the global environment. In response to these issues, in May 1995 the (then) Ministry of International Trade and Industry announced that it was relaxing the conditions for licensed electricians dispatched by a building maintenance company working on two assignments concurrently. JBMA works in cooperation with the Building Energy Managers' Association of Japan.

【Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport】
　Building Standards Law
　Law for Comparted-ownership of Buildings
　Law Concerning Standardization of Condominium Management
　Maintenance of buildings has recently been reviewed and the clauses related to maintenance in the Building Standards Law are being improved. JBMA works in cooperation with the Building Maintenance & Management Center. Regulations about the management of condominiums are laid down in the Law for Comparted-ownership of Buildings and the Law Concerning Standardization of Condominium Management. JBMA cooperates with the Condominium Management Companies Association.

Interactions

World Congress of Building Maintenance
　The World Federation of Building Service Contractors, founded in 1979 as a group of building maintenance companies worldwide, holds an international congress every other year for the study and exchange of information about management and technologies.
　As a core member of the Federation, JBMA actively participates in this congress. Both the 3rd (1982) and the 9th (1992) World Congresses were held in Japan.
　【16th】2006 Korea　　　　URL：http://wfbsc2006.cnweb.co.kr/
　【17th】2008 Argentina　　URL：http://www.wfbsc2008.com.ar/welcome.htm

Asian Building Maintenance Association (ABMA)
　The Asian Building Maintenance Association was established in Seoul, South Korea, in October 2006 by the Associations in eight countries and regions. The Federation designated Shinya Karino, President of JBMA, as its first President. Japan hosted the inaugural meeting in November 2007.
　URL：http://www.asiabma.net/

Building Maintenance Human Fair
　In order to promote nationwide friendship and study various management issues, JBMA began convening national meetings of building maintenance companies in 1985: the 1st meeting was in Hakone, Kanagawa Prefecture; the 2nd was on Kobe Port Island, Hyogo Prefecture; the 3rd was at Makuhari Messe, Chiba Prefecture; and the 4th was at the National Convention Hall in the City of Yokohama.
　The contents of the meetings were broadened in 1991 to make them accessible to non-management level participants. Skill competitions related to building cleaning, presentations of improvement cases, and other events were introduced. JBMA has held the event as the Building Maintenance Human Fair every other year since 1991.
　URL：http://www.j-bma.or.jp/fair/outline/Englishindex.html