Posted on Jun 4, 2015
Japan Thinking About Toilets On Elevators. Your Thoughts?
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Japan mulls emergency toilets in elevators
Japan has around 620,000 elevators in public or commercial buildings nationwide, about 20 percent of which are in Tokyo
Japan has around 620,000 elevators in public or commercial buildings nationwide, about 20 percent of which are in Tokyo (AFP Photo/Aaron Tam)
Tokyo (AFP) - Japan is looking at installing toilets in elevators and providing an emergency supply of drinking water for people trapped by the nation's frequent powerful earthquakes, an official said Wednesday.
The move comes after dozens of people were left high and dry, some for over an hour, following a 7.8 magnitude quake on Saturday that stopped lifts.
Most of the elevators automatically halted at the nearest floor and opened their doors, but 14 were stranded between storeys.
A meeting between officials from the infrastructure ministry and elevator industry bodies agreed to look into providing toilets for use in an emergency, an official from the Association of Elevator Makers told AFP.
These might include collapsable cardboard structures with a waterproof bag or absorbant material inside.
Some recently-installed lifts have small seating areas for Japan's growing ranks of elderly people, and installing facilities underneath these seats is one possibility.
Japan has around 620,000 elevators in public or commercial buildings nationwide, about 20 percent of which are in Tokyo.
It also sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and is regularly hit by powerful earthquakes.
The government estimates that the next "Big One" -- a huge quake seismologists say is almost certain to hit the capital over the coming decades -- may leave up to 17,000 people stranded in elevators.
Saturday's quake was centred on a remote spot in the Pacific Ocean around 900 kilometres (550 miles) south of Tokyo, but was felt throughout the country.
Japan has around 620,000 elevators in public or commercial buildings nationwide, about 20 percent of which are in Tokyo
Japan has around 620,000 elevators in public or commercial buildings nationwide, about 20 percent of which are in Tokyo (AFP Photo/Aaron Tam)
Tokyo (AFP) - Japan is looking at installing toilets in elevators and providing an emergency supply of drinking water for people trapped by the nation's frequent powerful earthquakes, an official said Wednesday.
The move comes after dozens of people were left high and dry, some for over an hour, following a 7.8 magnitude quake on Saturday that stopped lifts.
Most of the elevators automatically halted at the nearest floor and opened their doors, but 14 were stranded between storeys.
A meeting between officials from the infrastructure ministry and elevator industry bodies agreed to look into providing toilets for use in an emergency, an official from the Association of Elevator Makers told AFP.
These might include collapsable cardboard structures with a waterproof bag or absorbant material inside.
Some recently-installed lifts have small seating areas for Japan's growing ranks of elderly people, and installing facilities underneath these seats is one possibility.
Japan has around 620,000 elevators in public or commercial buildings nationwide, about 20 percent of which are in Tokyo.
It also sits at the junction of four tectonic plates and is regularly hit by powerful earthquakes.
The government estimates that the next "Big One" -- a huge quake seismologists say is almost certain to hit the capital over the coming decades -- may leave up to 17,000 people stranded in elevators.
Saturday's quake was centred on a remote spot in the Pacific Ocean around 900 kilometres (550 miles) south of Tokyo, but was felt throughout the country.
Japan
Foreign Cultures
Technology
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 15
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When Hitomi went back to Japan a few weeks ago, they had a 6.2 mag quake. 3 weeks later it is the day before leaving Tokyo and they get hit again. In 2011 her entire town went out to sea. She spent 2 days on a roof. If they want crappers in an elevator, they deserve crappers in an elevator.
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SGT (Join to see)
SFC Mark Merino, Sorry to hear about Hitomi and her devastating tragedy. How is she doing now? I can't imagine that happening to my wife. Really, really sorry, Mark.
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SFC Mark Merino
Poor thing developed breast cancer. Lots of Japanese women are developing breast cancer at alarming rates post-Fukishima. She had to get surgeries and radiation and now she is on year 2/10 with these meds that make every joint in her body ache. Arizona is hard on her body, but so was Japan. We might try Saipan or Guam since Hawaii is too expensive just on retirement.
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Bad idea. Imagine the smell. I know a guy who cleared out a 12 lane bowling ally with a fart.
Imagine the stench if he had a commode in an elevator.
He would clear out the whole building.
Imagine the stench if he had a commode in an elevator.
He would clear out the whole building.
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SGT (Join to see)
SA Harold Hansmann, I've been known to clear out my house and our toilet is in a bathroom. Lol
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